Bali Faces Growing Fire Risk as Prolonged Dry Conditions Continue

DENPASAR, Bali - September 29, 2026 - The Bali Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD Bali), in coordination with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), has issued an elevated wildfire and structural fire advisory across multiple regencies as prolonged dry-season conditions and gusty southeasterly winds continue to desiccate open vegetation across the island.

The heightened fire danger rating follows an extended dry period spanning late July through late September, during which rainfall has been virtually absent across coastal and lowland corridors in northern and eastern Bali.

The warning highlights heightened vulnerability across forested volcanic slopes, dry coastal scrublands, and municipal waste facilities. Authorities have placed rapid-response firefighting units, forest ranger patrols, and village disaster preparedness volunteers (Destana) on high alert, particularly across Buleleng, Karangasem, Bangli, and Badung regencies.

Geographic hotspots and environmental factors

Meteorological assessments indicate that relative humidity levels across northern and eastern Bali have dipped below 45 percent during mid-day hours, while surface winds channelled through the Lombok and Bali Straits have registered gusts between 25 and 35 kilometers per hour.

These atmospheric conditions create an environment where small embers or unattended campfires can rapidly spread into uncontrollable brush fires.

The areas designated under highest surveillance include:

• Mount Batur and Mount Agung Volcanic Slopes: Dry savanna grasslands, pine forests, and volcanic ash scree in Bangli and Karangasem.
• Coastal Scrubland in Kubu and Gerokgak: Arid coastal terrain in northern and north-eastern Bali where consecutive dry days have surpassed 60 days.
• Municipal Landfill Sites (TPA): Open waste management facilities, including TPA Suwung in South Denpasar and TPA Mandung in Tabanan, where subsurface methane accumulation creates chronic ignition hazards during extended heat waves.

"Dry foliage and combustible biomass have reached critical thresholds across our mountain slopes and open grasslands," stated an emergency response director from BPBD Bali. "When high surface temperatures combine with strong seasonal winds, a localized spark can develop into an extensive blaze within minutes. Inter-agency coordination is essential to detect smoke signatures early and suppress fires before they threaten populated settlements or protected conservation forests."

Safety protocols for volcanic trekking and mountain tourism

The fire alert holds direct operational implications for Bali's popular volcanic trekking and adventure tourism sectors.

Mount Batur in Kintamani and Mount Agung in Karangasem draw hundreds of domestic and foreign hikers daily for sunrise ascents. Local mountain guide associations (Pemandu Wisata Alam Gunung Batur and Agung), under directives from local police and natural resource conservation agencies (BKSDA), have instituted strict safety regulations along all official ascent trails.

Key measures implemented along trekking routes include:

• Total Ban on Open Fires: Campfires, cooking stoves, trash incineration, and the lighting of fireworks are strictly prohibited across all volcanic trails and summit caldera zones.
• Cigarette Disposal Enforcement: Guides and climbers are required to ensure that all smoking materials are completely extinguished and packed out. Dropping cigarette butts along trails carries immediate operational sanctions for guides and legal penalties for violators.
• Registration and Evacuation Briefings: All hiking groups must register at official base camps (pos pendakian), carry adequate emergency communication equipment, and receive standard briefings regarding fire evacuation routes.

Municipal preparedness and landfill surveillance

In southern urban centers, municipal fire departments (Dinas Pemadam Kebakaran dan Penyelamatan) have stepped up monitoring around municipal waste processing facilities.

Memories of the prolonged landfill fires of late 2023 at TPA Suwung - which blanketed parts of Denpasar and Sanur in smoke haze and disrupted local aviation corridors - have prompted permanent preventative infrastructure. Daily water-spraying schedules have been implemented across active landfill cells to dissipate heat, while thermal-imaging drone inspections monitor subsurface methane hot-spots.

Village administrations (Desa Adat and Kelurahan) across the island have also re-issued community circulars banning the open burning of agricultural rice-straw, dry leaves, and domestic waste, reminding residents that violators face enforcement under local municipal sanitation bylaws.

Advisory for residents and travelers

BPBD Bali urges residents, business operators, and visiting tourists to remain vigilant:

• Immediate Reporting of Smoke Sightings: Any visible smoke or unmonitored brush fires along mountain slopes, highway verges, or open fields should be reported immediately via the unified emergency hotline (112) or directly to local fire dispatch centers.
• Responsible Property Maintenance: Villa operators, boutique resorts, and residential homeowners situated along dry ravines or forested perimeters should clear dry leaves, clear brush within 10 meters of structures, and ensure fire extinguishers (APAR) are fully inspected and functional.

With climatological models projecting that the onset of steady monsoon rainfall will not occur until November, sustained inter-agency vigilance and community cooperation remain Bali's primary defense against destructive wildfires.