The Ubud Central Art Market suffered grave damage following a fire that began on 17 August 2024, Indonesian Independence Day. The fire, which started around 1:00 pm, has been traced to an electrical short circuit at Kiosk Number 3, which sells T-shirts and textiles on the eastern side of the market’s basement.
At the height of the blaze Saturday evening, at least 21 fire trucks from Gianyar, Bangli, Klungkung, Denpasar, Badung, and Denpasar responded to the scene, attempting to bring the inferno under control. Residents and even visiting tourists formed volunteer fire-fighting bucket brigades to support firefighters in extinguishing the fire. Meanwhile, at significant personal risk, panicked shop owners tried to weave their way through the still-burning fire and working fire crews in furtive efforts to salvage shop inventories.
At 4:00 pm, the fire continued unabated as firefighters battled the blaze.
Preliminary reports confirm that the fire destroyed the contents of many shops and “tens” of motorcycles.
The basement fire started in a single kiosk, among other stands selling clothing, fruit, vegetables, fish, and household items.
Meanwhile, large billows of smoke enveloped the Ubud Palace, located across the street from the market and the large Catus Pata Ubud Statue that dominates Bali’s High Street,
The Ubud Art Market, located directly across the street from the Ubud Royal Palance, was opened less than a year ago on 23 September 2024, following a rebuilding and renovation program that commenced in 2020. The 17 August 2024 fire was the second time a major fire struck the Ubud Market. An earlier fire occurred in Block A of the Ubud Art Market in March 2016
Shocked by the devastation caused by the fire, the leader of the Ubud Palace and former Deputy Governor of Bali, Tjokorda Artha Ardhana Sukawati (Cok Ace), stated that powers in both the visible and invisible realms (sekala and niskala) must be employed to avoid future catastrophes.
Following an Independence Day Flag-raising Ceremony in Gianyar’s Town Square (Alun-Alun), the Interim Regent of the Gianyar Regency, Dewa Tagel Wirasa, rushed to the Ubud Market at 6:00 pm. Wirasa found the fire still blazed in the basement area of the market. Wirasa was joined at the fire’s location by the former Deputy-Governor Cok Ace.
The Gianyar Regency administration has declared the Ubud Market closed while officials seek viable alternatives for traders affected by the fire.
Cok Ace from the Ubud Palace expressed his concern regarding the fire, mainly because the blaze occurred during the current high season of tourism. Cok Ace commented, “The high season is an excellent opportunity for merchants operating from the Ubud Market to increase their incomes. And, now, a catastrophe has occurred. Hopefully, the situation can be quickly resolved, and a temporary new location for the traders can be identified,
Also attending the fire site, the Regency Secretary, Dewa Gede Alit Mudiarta, proclaimed that handling the catastrophe was being done to an optimal level. He disclosed that several market traders said the fire had started on the east side of the basement, where essential goods are kept and sold. “This is a disaster, a tragedy that no one could predict. We coordinated our efforts with all the municipalities and regencies, including Denpasar, Klungkung, Bangli, and Badung. The situation has been handled optimally,” said Dewa Alit.
Alit confirmed that the actual cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Alit estimated 400 merchants saw their kiosks destroyed by the fire. The monetary value of the fire damage has yet to be calculated. Fortunately, no injuries or deaths have been linked to the market fire.
It took 8 hours to bring the fire under control. Those working to control the fire blame the extended firefight on the market’s design, which had only one entrance on the west side of the building. The limited access complicated firemen’s ability to gain close contact with the blaze. As a result, some firefighters were compelled to route their fire hoses through private residences adjoining the market.
Separately, Bali’s former Deputy Governor Cok Ace told the press he was unaware of issues related to limited access to the market’s basement, which has only one access door on the east end of the building.
Cok Ace acknowledged that the design fault must be addressed in the rebuilding process.
The Head of the Industrial and Commerce Service (Kadis Perindag) for the Regency of Gianyar, Luh Gde Eka Suatu, reported that hundreds of small traders operated from the basement of the Ubud Market. “There are cosmetic shops, food, rice, chili, and vegetable sellers, totaling 400 individuals,” explained Luh Gde Eka Suatu.
NusaBali.com, reporting from the burnt-out basement of the Ubud Market was described as a dark and gloomy area, filled with smoke. Firefighters reported that the ambient temperatures in the basement area remained very high. One of the firefighters said the water poured on the fire was bubbling and boiling on the basement floor. The firefighter showed his hands, which were made red by the searing heat. Many motorcycles on the basement level had been destroyed by fire. The smoke covering the market area came from burnt merchandise, including tires and plastic.
Investigators estimate that around 50 motorcycles were destroyed in the fire.
After the fire, 134 stalls and six stores were destroyed on two floors of Block A.
The day after the fire, Sunday, 18 August, by 8:00 am, visitors began to flock back to the Ubud Market to survey the previous day’s damage. On the morning after the fire, the surface temperature within the market remained very high, as a group of visitors panicked when they discovered a still-smoldering fire that was quickly extinguished by firefighters still on duty at the market.
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