BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR — A fire, believed to have been triggered by leftover debris burning, gutted a makeshift shack and damaged several Hindu shrines on a vacant lot in Denpasar on Saturday (April 18, 2026) at around 12:30 WITA.

The incident occurred on Jalan Bukit Indah, Banjar Pagutan, Padangsambian Village, West Denpasar District. The land is owned by Ketut Darya, while debris disposal activities at the site are managed by a 60-year-old man identified as Samsul Hadi.

According to information gathered at the scene, the fire was first noticed when flames had already grown large in the area where construction debris was piled. Samsul Hadi said he had been at the site since around 9:00 a.m. before leaving at 11:00 a.m. to perform prayers at Masjid Al Furqon. Upon returning at approximately 12:30 p.m., he found the fire raging.

“I tried to extinguish the flames using buckets of water, but the fire spread quickly. I also managed to save two motorcycles from the site,” he said.

Another witness, Gede Darti Yasa (61), reported smelling something burning at around 1:00 p.m. Moments later, he saw thick black smoke and flames rapidly engulfing the shack.

Meanwhile, Gede Dana Yasa (65), the owner of the affected shrines, said he noticed black smoke coming from the location and immediately contacted firefighters. He also attempted to douse the flames as they began spreading to the roofs of his shrines, which were made of palm fiber.

“The fire had reached the shrine roofs. I tried to put it out with water before firefighters arrived,” he explained.

The blaze destroyed one shack along with several valuables, including four mobile phones, a television, personal documents such as ID cards, vehicle registration papers, driver’s licenses, and approximately Rp2 million in cash. In addition, the roofs of three shrines—Kemulan, Taksu, and Surya—were partially damaged, with total losses estimated at around Rp10 million.

Firefighters from the Denpasar Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) deployed 10 fire engines to the scene. After an intense operation, the fire was successfully extinguished without causing any casualties or injuries.

Police officers who received the report immediately secured the scene, questioned witnesses, and installed a police line as part of the ongoing investigation.

Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have been caused by smoldering remnants of burned debris—wood and bamboo—left from burning activities carried out by Samsul Hadi a day earlier. He has since been taken to the West Denpasar Police Station for further questioning.

Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution when conducting open burning activities, especially in areas prone to fire hazards.