Tabanan, Bali. A massive blaze tore through the Ulaman Eco Luxury Resort in Buwit village, Tabanan, on Friday, destroying 17 villas in the upscale property known for its rice field surroundings.

The fire broke out around 11 a.m. local time while construction crews were working on the resort’s expansion project. Although most of the villas were still under construction, four had already been occupied by guests. Fortunately, none of the occupants were on site when the fire started.

Kuncoro Hadi, a witness and vendor involved in the construction, said the flames spread suddenly. “My workers told me the fire suddenly grew, and no one knew where it came from. We tried to put it out with whatever we had, but it didn’t work,” he said.

Strong winds worsened the situation, pushing the flames from one structure to another. The resort’s remote location in the middle of rice paddies and the thatched alang-alang roofs (a traditional Balinese building material) fueled the rapid spread.

“Everyone from the project tried to help extinguish the fire, but the wind kept getting stronger. Of the 17 villas, four had guests, but they were not at the location during the incident,” Hadi added.

Five fire trucks and crews from the Tabanan Fire Department rushed to the scene, assisted by resort staff and local residents. Firefighters faced challenges reaching some villas due to limited road access and the terrain.

No injuries were reported, and police are now investigating the cause of the blaze. The scale of the damage has yet to be officially assessed.

The Ulaman Eco Luxury Resort, located about 25 kilometers from Denpasar, is known for its environmentally sustainable design, incorporating bamboo structures, natural materials, and panoramic views of surrounding rice terraces.