Denpasar Fire Intensifies, Forcing 100 Residents to Evacuate
A fire covering an area of approximately five hectares in Gang Jatayu, Jalan Nakula, West Denpasar, intensified on Tuesday (1/9/2026) afternoon. The flames, which were initially confined to a pile of rubbish, spread to consume several standing temporary shelters.
Observations at 5:00 PM WITA showed active fire points within the rubbish piles. By 6:30 PM WITA, the fire had expanded and ignited nearby structures. The shelters were rapidly destroyed, with loud explosions heard from a distance. Firefighters were deployed to navigate the area to combat the flames.
As of 9:30 PM WITA, the fire had not been fully extinguished, with dozens of firefighters still struggling to contain the blaze. The fire was first detected on Monday night (31/8/2026), during which several nearby buildings were razed to the ground.
The Head of the Denpasar Fire and Rescue Service (Damkarmat), I Made Tirana, stated that the extinguishing process is expected to take two to three days. A total of 12 units were deployed, supported by six additional fire engines from the Badung Regency.
“The area is approximately four to five hectares,” said Tirana on Tuesday. He noted that firefighters are facing difficulties because several fire points are obscured by corrugated iron sheets from old warehouse roofs. The team is currently awaiting heavy excavators to clear the debris.
“If the heavy machinery arrives quickly, we can resolve this faster. The process will likely take two to three days. Given the vastness of the area and the challenging terrain covered in metal sheets, it is quite difficult,” Tirana added.
Tirana confirmed there were no casualties in the fire and urged residents to remain vigilant against fire risks, specifically warning against the indiscriminate burning of rubbish.
The fire has impacted hundreds of residents from 23 households. They have been forced to evacuate to the Al-Ikhlas prayer room, one of the few remaining standing structures in the area. By Tuesday afternoon, residents had gathered in the prayer room’s courtyard, receiving donations of food and clothing.
Asmuni, one of the evacuees, shared that many have been unable to sleep or tend to personal hygiene since the fire began. Most residents in the area work as scrap metal collectors, but they are currently unable to work as both their homes and places of business were destroyed.
Other residents, such as Tukiran, reported hearing explosions during the initial blaze on Monday night. He noted that several vehicles, including an Avanza and a pickup truck, as well as numerous semi-permanent buildings, were lost in the fire.