Police Investigate Fire In Pandansari Balikpapan

Smoke from fire in Pandansari Street, West Balikpapan, Wednesday (7/9/2022) (ANTARA/novi abdi)

BALIKPAPAN - The West Balikpapan police team immediately investigated the origin of the fire that was still burning at the Pandansari Street fire site, West Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, until Wednesday, September 7.

The firefighters were also seen spraying water at a number of points in the location where there used to be a row of shophouses (ruko), while the police put up yellow ribbons marking the no-passage for unauthorized persons.

"Tomorrow we will immediately conduct a crime scene investigation, at 09.15," said West Balikpapan Police Chief Kompol Djoko Purwanto, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 7.

From the temporary data collection, it is known that 34 families or 160 people lost their homes and places of business.

It is known that the fire first flared at around 2:35 p.m. Central Indonesia time. Houses and shophouses made of wood quickly burned and spread.

"We have deployed all FMD units. In total there are 18 units assisted by volunteers as well as from Brimob, PDAM Perumda Tirta Manuntung, and from Brimob and from Pertamina," said Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Balikpapan City Silvi Rahmadani.

Based on information compiled by BPBD, at least 34 houses from 2 RT, namely RT 20 and RT 18, Margasari Village, West Balikpapan District were burned.

Silvi added that his party took a while to extinguish the fire because at the location of the fire there were warehouses of LPG, cloth, foam, diesel, and plastic.

Meanwhile, West Balikpapan Police Chief Kompol Djoko Purwanto said his party was still seeking information from various witnesses.

"Currently, we have brought two witnesses to the West Balikpapan Police for questioning.

Meanwhile, West Balikpapan Sub-district Head Muhammad Arif together with Muspika established a refugee post at the fire site. Mayor Rachmad also took the time to visit the residents at the evacuation post.