JAKARTA, Thekabarnews.com—Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) is mourning the death of its Member IV, Haerul Saleh, after a house fire claimed his life at his residence on TB Simatupang Street, Tanjung Barat, Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, on Friday morning, May 8, 2026.

The fire started at around 07:53 local time and immediately drew emergency response teams to the location.

According to police, a small amount of thinner, a remnant of a home renovation, ignited a fire. It spread quickly to the third floor of the building.

Head of the South Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-department, Asril Rizal, said his team sent four fire engines and 16 personnel to handle the incident.

“We dispatched four fire trucks and 16 personnel to put out the incident,” Asril told reporters on Friday in confirming the incident.

Firefighters were able to put out the fire. Furthermore, early indications were that renovation materials were the likely source of ignition, he said.

Local neighborhood officials said residents first saw thick black smoke coming from the third floor of the house. The fire is believed to have started from the leftover thinner and renovation waste stored inside the building.

The neighborhood unit (RT) head saw the smoke and immediately called the firefighters, asking for emergency help.

“The officers have evacuated the dead victim with the initials Haerul Saleh, 49, and brought the body to Pasar Minggu Regional General Hospital by ambulance for further handling,” said Asril.

Seven other people were also inside the house when the fire broke out, authorities said. Emergency teams have assisted all affected individuals, but officials have yet to disclose their condition.

Authorities are still tallying the total financial losses from the incident. Meanwhile, police confirmed that the victim was Haerul Saleh, a Member IV of BPK RI.

At this time, officers of the Jagakarsa Police Sector are still at the scene of the incident. They are there to continue investigating and collecting more evidence about the cause of the fire.

“His death has brought deep sorrow to government circles, especially within the BPK, where he served as one of the senior officials responsible for state financial accountability and auditing,” the report said.

Public officials and colleagues are offering condolences for the sudden loss.

The incident also reminds us of the danger that renovation materials such as thinner and other flammable substances pose. This is especially true when people store those substances improperly inside homes.

Authorities are expected to carry out further forensic checks. They will work to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and whether other safety violations contributed to the tragedy.

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