Jambi (ANTARA News) - A resident of Jambi city become homeless since early Saturday after sprinkle of firecrackers launched by local residents to welcome New Year 2011 gutted his house.

Ramli, 55, and his family members were not at home when the fire gutted the house because they joined crowds to celebrate the new year`s eve, some of his neighbors told ANTARA here Saturday.

According to his neighbors, some people were playing firecrackers near Ramli`s house. The fire sprinkle might have gutted the house`s roof.

The fire could be extinguished an hour later after five fire trucks were sent there.
Another new year`s eve-related fire accident also occurred in Bali island.

A unit of Bakrie Estate villa`s block 57 at Bali Nirwara Resort of Tanah Lot, Kediri subdistrict, Tabanan district, Bali province, got damaged after the fire gutted it on Friday night.

A Russian tourist named Michael who rent the unit suspected that the fire was caused by firework rockets launched to welcome the 2011 new year`s eve, a police officer said here Saturday.

Kediri subdistrict police chief, Adjunct Commissioner Kompian Srinadi said the villa was rented by Michael who was on holiday in Bali with his family members when the accident happened.

The fire sprinkling began gutting the villa`s coarse-grass roof at about 10.30 PM local timer when the firework rockets had been launched to the air, he said.

Kompian Srinadi the fire could be extinguished after two units of fire trucks were sent to the villa.

The exact causes of fire remained under the police investigation despite Michael`s explanation that it was caused by the fireworks, he said.

Another fire accident also destroyed a house in Dalung housing complex, Kuta Utara, but there were no reports of fatalities, he said.

The house was on fire when the owner left it for enjoying the new year`s eve festival, he said. (*)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011