Electrical Short Circuit Triggers Fire at Chicken Butchery Business in Denpasar

A fire gutted a rental house that also served as a chicken butchery business on Jalan Cempaka Putih, Gang Kelapa, East Denpasar, Bali, on Monday (5/10/2026). The fire was suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit in a small guard post or hut used for resting at the front of the house.

Denpasar City Police Public Relations Chief, I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, stated that preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit occurred in the electrical supply within the post. The electricity was being used for power strips, lights, and mobile phone charging.

“It is suspected that an electrical short circuit occurred in the resting post, specifically involving power strips used for plugs, lights, and phone charging,” said Adi.

This suspicion was supported by eyewitness testimony from individuals at the scene who first saw flames emerging from the area of the hut used for sitting and resting. A witness named Lutfi (4lag) stated that he heard residents shouting for help due to the fire around 08:45 WITA. Upon exiting his house, he saw the flames, noting that the homeowner’s sister was still near the location.

Lutfi then requested that vehicles parked inside the house be moved immediately. He and nearby residents attempted to extinguish the flames using buckets of water.

However, the fire spread rapidly because the building materials consisted of plywood and there were strong gusts of wind at the time. Residents subsequently contacted the fire department.

Meanwhile, Siti Lailatul Fitrian (21), who was inside the house during the incident, said she heard the residents’ shouts. Upon stepping outside, she saw the small hut on fire and the flames growing larger.

Siti then sought help from neighbours to extinguish the fire. She also immediately went to fetch Rohmawati (29), the homeowner, who was selling chicken at Renon Market at the time.

Rohmawati stated that she only learned of the fire after being picked up by Siti. She immediately returned to the property to assess the condition of her residence and business.

As a result of the fire, several vehicles and business assets belonging to Rohmawati were destroyed. These included one Daihatsu Ayla car, three Honda Vario motorcycles (one of which belonged to a neighbour), a chicken cleaning machine, and an electric scale.

“The losses are approximately Rp 300 million,” said Adi.

Rohmawati and her family have since been evacuated to a relative’s house for temporary accommodation.