Sumedang Tofu Restaurant Fires In Garut, Police Explore Intentional Elements

GARUT - The Garut Police are investigating the cause of a fire that scorched the entire Sumedang Tofu Restaurant on Jalan Raya Limbangan, Garut Regency, West Java, Sunday, August 7 evening.

"It is true that a fire is under investigation, it has gone down to conduct a TKP (case)," said Limbangan Police Chief AKBP Uus Susilo in Garut, quoted from Antara, Monday, August 8.

He said the fire at the Sumedang Tofu Restaurant was located on the Bandung-Tasikmalaya national road, precisely in Cilangir Village, Cigagade Village, Limbangan District.

The fire, which occurred around 23.00 WIB, said the police chief, did not cause any casualties. At that time the condition of the restaurant was closed or there were no customers.

"In this incident, there were no casualties or injuries, while material losses cannot be estimated," he said.

He conveyed the results of the temporary investigation and the statements of a number of witnesses, that the cause of the fire was suspected to be from the fireplace where the frying pan in the restaurant was located.

Regarding the alleged intentional element, the Sector Police Chief said that his party was still investigating further to prove the existence of a criminal element.

"We don't know yet, it's still under investigation, not in that direction (allegedly), it's a temporary guess from the furnace," said Uus.

The fire has scorched the restaurant building, most of which are made of bamboo and other flammable building materials.

The fire at the large restaurant owned by Zarkasih (65), a resident of Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency, was successfully extinguished 1 hour later by 4 units of firefighters who were dispatched to the scene, assisted by elements of the TNI, Polri, and the local community.