Two Kios in Denpasar Destroyed by Fire Following Explosions
A fire broke out on Jalan Padma, Tonja, East Denpasar, on Wednesday (23/9/2026) at approximately 05:15 WITA. Two adjacent small kiosks, a shoe repair shop and a ‘canang’ (traditional offerings) shop, were completely consumed by the flames.
One witness, 66-year-old Lindayani, stated that she was performing the Tahajud prayer with her grandchild when they suddenly heard sounds resembling firework explosions from across the street. Initially, she thought someone was setting off firecrackers in the early hours of the morning, but upon exiting her house, she discovered flames already raging inside the two shops opposite her residence.
“The sound was like fireworks; I thought, who would be setting off fireworks at this hour? Once I realised it was a fire due to the smell of smoke, I rushed out immediately,” Lindayani said at the scene on Wednesday.
Lindayani, who runs an animal feed shop directly opposite the site, was the first to notice the blaze. Upon looking towards the two kiosks, she found the fire had already grown large within the interior of the buildings, although it had not yet reached the roofs.
Seeing the situation, Lindayani’s grandchild immediately contacted the fire department and attempted to notify the owner of the shoe repair shop, as they had the owner’s contact number.
Local residents gathered and attempted initial firefighting efforts to prevent the fire from spreading further before the fire brigade arrived. Lindayani noted that her grandchild and other residents helped break down the corrugated metal doors to combat the flames.
The Denpasar City Fire Department deployed six vehicles to handle the incident. However, according to Lindante, the fire had already become quite large by the time the officers arrived, possibly due to the distance from their station.
The two burnt kiosks were small, adjacent structures built with highly flammable materials; the ‘canang’ shop, in particular, featured walls largely made of plywood. The shoe repair shop sold various items including bags, shoe soles, shoe cleaning services, and motorcycle saddles, while the ‘canang’ shop sold flowers, ceremonial trays, and various traditional ritual supplies.
Both shops were empty at the time of the fire. The ‘canang’ shop typically begins serving customers around 06:00 WITA with two employees.
Lindayani suspects the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit. She noted that the explosions did not appear to be caused by gas cylinders, as the shop owners typically eat at local food stalls.
The owner of the shoe repair shop had reportedly said goodbye to Lindayani the previous night, intending to travel by motorcycle to his hometown in Surabaya. The shop had been operating at that location for approximately two years, and the owner lived alone in Denpasar while his family remained in Surabaya.
The fire was eventually extinguished after firefighters managed the scene. No individuals were inside the shops when the fire occurred. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown and is subject to further investigation by authorities, while material losses are currently being assessed.