A fire engulfed the Chez Gado-Gado restaurant in Bali, Indonesia, on Sunday, August 30, 2026, after a balloon reportedly exploded during a birthday celebration. An Australian teenager sustained burns and was hospitalized following the incident, according to reports.
The fire began when a waitress attempted to light a candle on a birthday cake. The flame reportedly came too close to a balloon on the table, causing it to pop and ignite.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with flames quickly spreading to the restaurant's straw roof. "It lit up like a firecracker... people were screaming and crying and running around," said witness Paul Cole.
Another witness, Tara Borelli, described the event, stating, "I just grabbed my daughter and little cousin and ran straight onto the beach towards the water." She noted that "within minutes" the entire restaurant was ablaze.
Firefighters from the Badung Fire and Rescue Service responded to the scene and worked for over two hours to extinguish the blaze. The Denpasar Police stated that the fire is "strongly suspected" to have originated from the balloon igniting near the candle flame. Initial extinguishing efforts by restaurant staff were unsuccessful due to the rapid spread of the fire.
The restaurant has announced it is "temporarily closed" on its website.