Firefighters Battle Blaze Engulfing Hundreds of Traditional Houses in Lombok's Sade Village

Firefighters worked through Saturday night to combat a significant blaze that destroyed hundreds of traditional houses in the Sade tourist village, located in Rambitan Village, Pujut District, Lombok Tengah, West Nusa Tenggara. The fire broke out around 10 p.m. local time, and its cause remains under investigation.

Supardan, head of the Lombok Tengah Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed that dozens of fire trucks were deployed to the scene, with assistance arriving from Lombok Timur, Lombok Barat, Mataram City, and the West Nusa Tenggara provincial government. "The firefighting is still ongoing until midnight because embers are still glowing," Supardan stated late Saturday night, underscoring the intensity of the blaze.

Lalu Winakse, the head of Rambitan Village, reported that residents were being evacuated and that the number of affected houses was still being tallied, with initial estimates suggesting hundreds were destroyed. The fire reportedly began in one house in the center of the traditional settlement and quickly spread to others. Most of the traditional homes are constructed with wood, bamboo, and thatch, making them highly susceptible to fire.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident. Desa Sade is a well-known settlement of the Sasak ethnic group, preserving traditional housing and lifestyle. The houses typically feature thatched roofs, woven bamboo walls, and earthen floors mixed with buffalo dung and straw. The village is home to approximately 700 residents from a single lineage, living in about 150 houses.