BPBD Bali Records 217 Fires in 2026 Dry Season Monitoring

Denpasar — Bali’s disaster agency has recorded more than 200 fire incidents during the 2026 dry season, with official data showing 217 cases between mid-April and early September, including 44 forest and land fires that burned nearly 197 hectares across the province.

According to data from the Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported by Balipost on 8 September 2026, monitoring from 11 April to 6 September captured 173 fires involving buildings and settlements and 44 forest and land fires196.68 hectares

The building and settlement fires were recorded across all nine regencies and the municipality. BPBD figures cited by Balipost show Buleleng with the highest number of structure fires at 47 incidents, followed by Denpasar with 41 and Badung with 24. Karangasem recorded 15 incidents, while Jembrana and Klungkung each reported 12. Bangli registered 9 incidents, Gianyar 8 and Tabanan 5, completing the provincial tally of 173.

BPBD estimated losses from the 173 building and settlement fires at Rp2,631,550,000, or about Rp2.63 billion, based on its disaster monitoring records for the dry season. The agency did not publish a detailed breakdown of losses by district or type of building in the data cited by local media.

Where fires were concentrated

Buleleng also recorded the largest area affected by forest and land fires. Balipost reported that BPBD data attributes 159.07 hectares of burned forest and land to Buleleng, accounting for the bulk of the 196.68 hectares affected across Bali during the 11 April–6 September monitoring period.

BPBD records summarised by Balipost and TVRI Bali show forest and land fires in several other districts, though on a smaller scale. Incidents included burned areas in Nusa Penida, Klungkung; agricultural and vacant land in Karangasem’s Kubu and Abang subdistricts; vacant land in Jembrana; forest areas in Kintamani, Bangli; and additional vacant land in Klungkung’s Gunaksa. The combined extent of these sites, together with Buleleng, forms the province-wide total of 196.68 hectares.

BPBD also recorded fires at waste-management facilities during the same dry-season period. Balipost noted incidents at TPST 3R Culik in Karangasem, TPST 3R Tejakula in Buleleng and the Suwung landfill in South Denpasar, with reported burned areas at Culik and Suwung and unspecified damage at Tejakula.

Dry-season risks and prevention

BPBD Bali chief executive I Gede Agung Teja Bhusana Yadnya has warned that the 2026 dry season is expected to be longer, drier and hotter than normal, based on information from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). In comments reported by IDN Times and Balipost, he said Bali entered the dry season in the second ten-day period of April and that August was projected to be the peak of the dry season.

Teja explained that BMKG’s analysis of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indicated a very strong El Niño in 2026, increasing the risk of hydrometeorological disasters. According to his statements, these conditions heighten the potential for drought, forest and land fires, and fires in residential areas, particularly as higher temperatures and dry vegetation make it easier for flames to spread.

BPBD has urged residents to strengthen fire prevention measures during the dry season. In guidance reported by local media, the agency advised maintaining electrical networks, avoiding overloaded or non-standard cables and sockets, and being cautious with open burning in dry areas. BPBD also encouraged the placement of portable fire extinguishers in homes and public facilities and called for greater vigilance around accumulated dry waste that can act as fuel in the event of a fire.

Sources

• Balipost
• TVRI Bali
• IDN Times Bali