Fire Hits Bali’s Secret Garden Restaurant

A restaurant at Secret Garden Village in Tabanan caught fire early Wednesday morning, around 4:20 AM. However, the blaze was successfully extinguished by firefighters and local residents within about an hour.

The Head of Public Relations for the Tabanan Police, Iptu I Gusti Made Berata, reported, "There were no injuries, and the assessment of material damage is still ongoing."

According to witnesses, the fire was first noticed by two security guards at Secret Garden Village. An alarm had gone off just before, prompting the staff to check the premises. Smoke was seen rising from the restaurant, and the smell of burning was in the air. The guards tried to extinguish the flames engulfing the restaurant using fire extinguishers and water from a fire hose. They also called for help from neighbors, and the head of the local banjar, Pekalang, rang the bells. Local residents joined in the effort to control the fire while waiting for the specialists to arrive. Their actions prevented the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings.

Around 5:30 AM, the fire was successfully put out by the arriving fire brigade. "Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire started in the restaurant’s kitchen," concluded Berata.

Secret Garden Village is known as a tourist complex with unique architecture and beautiful views of the rice fields. It consists of three main buildings designed by intertwining traditional elements with modern geometric forms.

Recently, fires in Bali have been occurring with unfortunate regularity. Just a few days ago, a market in Ubud caught fire, followed by villas in Seminyak; even ships and landfills have been burning. This is partly due to the hot climate, but often the role is played by the use of flammable materials like bamboo, thatch, and wood, commonly known as eco-materials. Additionally, the buildings might lack fire alarms or basic firefighting equipment like fire extinguishers.

The numerous fires have drawn the attention of the authorities. The Deputy Chairman of the Bali Tourism Industry Association, I Nyoman Astama, notes that all accommodation facilities should undergo certification by relevant authorities to assess the level of risk before starting operations.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Bali Villa Association, I Putu Gede Hendrawan, believes that hotels or villas at a higher risk of fire, such as those with thatched roofs, should be equipped with enhanced fire protection measures.

Sources: bali tribune, nusabali