A series of fires has been reported in Bali in recent days, including a restaurant fire in Seminyak and a major blaze that affected temporary housing and a scrap storage area near Sunset Road in Denpasar.
The incidents have prompted firefighting teams and local authorities to step up operations in affected areas. No fatalities have been reported, although hundreds of households were affected by the larger fire in Denpasar.
Fire Guts Restaurant During Birthday Celebration
On Sunday, 30 August 2026, a fire gutted Chez Gado Gado Restaurant on Jalan Camplung Tanduk in Seminyak, Kuta, Badung Regency. The incident occurred shortly before 8 pm WITA while a customer was celebrating a birthday at the restaurant.
The fire was reportedly suspected to have started after a helium balloon used as part of the decorations exploded. Gas escaping from the balloon may have produced sparks that ignited nearby materials, causing the fire to spread.
Further details regarding the exact cause of the restaurant fire have not been established.
The incident came shortly before another major fire was reported in the Sunset Road and Jalan Nakula area, on the border between Legian and West Denpasar.
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Sunset Road Fire Burns Scrap and Temporary Housing
The larger fire was first reported on Sunday night, 31 August, at around 10pm to 10.30pm WITA in Jalan Nakula, Gang Jatayu, Banjar Margaya, Pemecutan Kelod, West Denpasar. The area contained semi-permanent plywood homes and large quantities of scrap materials.
The flames spread rapidly through piles of rubbish and scrap, with several vehicles and temporary structures also reportedly damaged. An estimated 300 households were affected.
Denpasar City Police Chief Senior Commissioner Leonardo David Simatupang said the fire was initially suspected to have started in one of the densely populated shacks.
“The fire emerged from one of the shacks, likely caused by a gas issue,” Leonardo said while inspecting firefighting operations at the scene, as reported by Kompas.com.
Firefighters faced difficulties reaching the main source of the blaze because the site was filled with large piles of scrap and other materials. Although surface flames were brought under control in some areas, embers remained underneath the piles and repeatedly reignited.
“The difficulty in extinguishing the fire stems from the large piles of materials; while the top layer burned, embers remained underneath,” Leonardo explained.
Strong winds also contributed to the spread of the flames and caused some areas to flare up again. Firefighters therefore had to approach the blaze from several directions while continuing to spray water on the burning materials.
A resident, identified on Threads as @starvingsilvy, described how fire trucks entered a nearby residential complex as the flames approached.
“3-4 fire trucks entered the complex because the fire was hard to reach at the scene and was starting to lick the complex walls,” the resident wrote, as cited by Tirto.id on Monday, 1 September 2026.
The Denpasar City Fire and Rescue Agency deployed 12 fire trucks, supported by six units from Badung Regency. Personnel from the TNI and Denpasar City Police also assisted with the operation.
Firefighting Continues as Heavy Machinery Is Deployed
The fire affected an estimated four to five hectares of land. Denpasar City Fire and Rescue Agency Head I Made Tirana said the size of the area and the condition of the site made the operation particularly difficult.
Some hotspots were covered by discarded corrugated iron sheets and other debris. Firefighters were unable to reach certain areas directly, prompting authorities to prepare an excavator to move the materials and expose the burning sections.
Tirana estimated that the full extinguishing and cooling operation could take two to three days.
Leonardo said heavy machinery was also being brought in to help firefighters deal with the remaining embers.
“We are bringing in heavy machinery in collaboration with the Denpasar City Public Works Agency and the Badung Regency Government,” he said.
“The heavy machinery will move the materials so that the underlying areas can be extinguished by the firefighters standing by,” Leonardo added.
More than 15 hours after the fire was first reported, firefighters remained on standby on Tuesday afternoon, 1 September, to respond to potential flare-ups. Smoke was still visible from parts of the site as teams continued cooling the affected areas.
“The fire department urged the public to remain vigilant regarding fire risks, especially given the hot weather and prolonged dry season. Residents were also advised against burning trash indiscriminately, as fire can spread easily, particularly in areas cluttered with refuse, scrap materials, and other flammable items.”
Authorities said there were no reports of fatalities or serious injuries. The cause of the Sunset Road fire remains under investigation, while firefighting and cooling operations continue.
