Firefighters continue cooling efforts at Jakarta Bapenda building after blaze

Firefighters are continuing to cool down the DKI Jakarta Regional Revenue Agency (Bapenda) building on Jalan Abdul Muis, Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Saturday morning. The operation aims to extinguish any remaining hot spots after a major fire ravaged the building on Friday night.

According to Karnawan, the duty officer for the Central Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency, personnel are conducting an overhaul, a thorough search of the affected areas. "The situation this morning is a cooling process. This overhaul is being done because there are still hot spots. We don't want any to be missed, which could lead to another fire," Karnawan stated at the scene.

The cooling process is expected to conclude around 9:00 AM WIB, ensuring the location is completely free of potential fire ignition. The building, which stands several stories high, shows signs of severe damage. The interior is scorched and blackened, with the upper structure appearing as a mere skeleton from a distance. Debris has fallen onto the street multiple times, prompting nearby gas station workers to assist in clearing the area.

Authorities suspect the fire originated inside the building, which was undergoing repairs. Central Jakarta Police Chief Kombes Reynold Elisa Partomuan Hutagalung indicated that the fire's origin was on an upper floor. "Someone mentioned it started on the 11th floor, where renovations were taking place," he said. The fire was first reported around 9:30 PM WIB on Friday, initially drawing two fire units. The response was later amplified to 20 units and 100 personnel to control the blaze.