134 Fires Hit Palembang Since Early 2025 Dominated By Electricity Problems

Illustration of officers extinguishing fires due to the attack by rebel forces in Suruah. (Unsplash-Dominic Sostmann)

SOUTH SUMATRA - Palembang City Fire Department (Damkar), handled 134 fire cases from early January to June or mid-2025.

Head of the Palembang City Fire Department, Rika, said that from early January to mid-June 2025 there were 134 cases of fires that occurred in the city.

The causes of the fire that occurred were 11 cases of stoves, 81 cases of electricity, one case of anti-vows, one case of matches, and the other 40 cases.

Then the number of fires hit as many as 44 houses, two buildings, three warehouses, 12 vehicles, three land points, 34 electricity infrastructure points, and others 36 cases.

He added that the Palembang Damkar continues to strive to increase preparedness and quick response in handling fire cases. Thus, it is hoped that it can reduce the impact of fires and improve public safety.

"We continue to strive to increase preparedness and quick response in handling fire cases," he said in Palembang, Monday, July 7, which was confiscated by Antara.

He added that the effectiveness of the Damkar in receiving reports was sought as much as possible even 15 at the latest after the report had to be at the location for handling.

The obstacles that are still being found for the target, starting from the call center of the fire department which has not been centered in one location and is currently in the preparation stage.

Then there are eight posts overcoming blankspot areas that have not been covered and in Palembang there are eight posts. In the future, there will be at least four to five new posts to handle it. Meanwhile, Damkar employees are currently less than 250 people, even when there is a new post, it can be needed up to 600 firefighters.

Meanwhile, the number of members in Palembang was 1,045 people and 33 units of fire cars.