Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A fire broke out at the Indonesia Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) building in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, late Saturday night (Feb. 8, 2025). The blaze, which started around 11:10 p.m. local time, was contained and fully extinguished by 12:35 a.m.
According to Acting Head of Jakarta’s Fire and Rescue Department Satriadi Gunawan, firefighters responded to the emergency at 11:18 p.m. after receiving reports of flames originating from the ministry’s public relations office on the first floor.
“Security personnel initially attempted to control the fire using portable extinguishers, but the flames had already spread to stacks of archived documents, producing heavy smoke,” Satriadi told local media on Sunday (Feb. 9, 2025).
Six fire trucks and 62 personnel were deployed to the scene. Firefighters managed to isolate the fire by 11:45 p.m. before conducting a cooling operation. The incident was officially declared under control at 12:35 a.m.
Possible Cause and Minister’s Response
Authorities believe an electrical short circuit in an air conditioning unit may have triggered the fire. However, ATR/BPN Minister Nusron Wahid suggested a different cause. Speaking to reporters at the site, he stated that an unattended computer might have been responsible.
“It seems that a computer was left on,” Nusron said. “But the investigation is ongoing. We will have clarity soon.”
Nusron, who was attending a religious gathering in West Jakarta when the fire occurred, arrived at the ministry building at approximately 11:40 p.m. He confirmed that the building was unoccupied at the time and no casualties were reported.
When asked about potential damage to official documents, the minister admitted uncertainty. “I don’t know yet what files may have been affected,” he added.
Public Skepticism and Online Reactions
The fire has ignited speculation among Indonesians, particularly on social media. Many users linked the incident to high-profile land disputes and corruption cases currently being handled by the ministry.
Some netizens drew parallels to past incidents, such as the controversial fire at the Attorney General’s Office, which was officially attributed to a discarded cigarette butt.
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One user on X (formerly Twitter) commented, “Are they going to say a worker accidentally dropped a cigarette again?” Another added, “Let’s hope they don’t claim the security cameras were under maintenance.”
Others suggested the fire was an act of intimidation. “Is Nusron Wahid being threatened?” wrote one user, while another speculated that it was linked to illegal land grabs and palm oil plantations.
The ATR/BPN Ministry has been at the center of several major cases, including disputes over maritime property rights in Tangerang and Bekasi. Critics fear that key evidence could have been compromised in the fire.
As of now, authorities continue to investigate the exact cause and assess potential losses. The incident adds to growing concerns about document security in government institutions, especially amid ongoing corruption probes.
(Becky)
