A teenager from WA’s Great Southern is being treated in a Bali hospital for burns to his face and arms after a popular Seminyak restaurant went up in flames on Sunday night.
The 17-year-old from Mount Barker was among diners caught up in the terrifying blaze that tore through Chez Gado Gado, sending holidaymakers fleeing towards the beach as flames rapidly consumed the venue.
The blaze broke out shortly after 7.30pm local time, with dramatic footage showing huge flames and clouds of orange smoke rising immediately above nearby villas.
Perth man Chad McElroy was among those caught in the chaos and helped rescue a man in a wheelchair as the fire spread.
Mr McElroy said he and his wife Tash had arrived early for their 8pm booking and were across the road on the beach when they first noticed smoke.
Mr McElroy said he spotted a man lying on the ground near the beach.
“I said, mate, you’re going to have to move because there could be some gas explosions,” he said.
“And he said, I can’t. I can’t walk. I’m in a wheelchair.
“So I helped him pick him up and drag him another 20, 30 metres down the beach.”
Mr McElroy said the situation had deteriorated rapidly as smoke thickened and flames engulfed the building.
“They started walking out when the first smoke, people were just idling walking,” he said.
“Then all of a sudden the smoke got really thick and people started panicking. That’s when I jumped the fence to help people down and then the flames just went bang, just flames everywhere.”
Perth man Heath Nelson, who was also arriving for an 8pm dinner booking, said the fire escalated within seconds.
“We were just on the beach ready to walk in. And I heard a big bang, big fireball, and then a lot of smoke,” Mr Nelson said.
“I saw a fire extinguisher come in, try to get it out and as soon as that stopped, the whole roof just exploded.”
He said diners began escaping down stairs and over a wall as the fire took hold.
“Within 30 seconds, everything was just on fire,” Mr Nelson said.
“All the roofs, all the trees were on fire.
“Our friends were caught inside. They made it through. There’s an exit door at the back. They made through that door down some laneway, and they escaped to the side . . . it was pretty horrific.”
Perth woman, Tash Welburn, was inside the restaurant with a group of 10 when the fire began.
Ms Welburn said she and her friend Emma were sitting at the back of the restaurant, behind the table where a birthday celebration was taking place, when they saw balloons explode.
“We saw the balloons explode and there was a bit of a panic because I think people thought maybe a bomb or something like that had gone off,” Ms Welburn said.
Ms Welburn said the fire spread so quickly she barely had time to react.
“Luckily, Emma, my friend, because I was just watching it, said, quick, quick, run,” she said.
“So we ran out the back door, as we were running out, literally within 20 seconds, the whole roof caught on fire.”
Ms Welburn said she saw people fleeing into the street, including parents carrying children.
“There were people screaming, and we just ran up the street, the back street, and people were just running,” she said.
“People were falling over. There were people holding babies, crying and then literally within, 30 to 45 seconds, the whole building was alight.”
Brisbane couple Hannah Shepherd and Jase Jackson had just received their meals when they heard a loud bang and saw what appeared to be a “fire ball” rise towards the ceiling.
“It was really, really scary,” Ms Shepherd said.
She said thick smoke quickly filled the venue, making it almost impossible to see through the crowd as diners scrambled for the exits.
“We just can’t believe it happened,” she said.
Indonesian authorities say the blaze was sparked by a party balloon, supposedly containing flammable gases, taken to the restaurant by guests for a birthday celebration.
The restaurant, which had operated for more than 30 years, was left severely damaged and four motorcycles parked at the site were also reportedly destroyed.
Mr McElroy said strong winds sent burning embers towards the beach, raising fears the blaze could spread to nearby businesses.
“It’s very windy. And you can see all the embers, like big embers, flying towards the beach,” he said.
“So it was lucky the wind was going this way and not back, because I think a lot of businesses would have caught on fire, especially that way and all the other buildings.”
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman confirmed the Australian Government was aware of reports an Australian had been hospitalised in Bali.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of reports that an Australian has been hospitalised in Bali,” the spokesman said.
“We stand ready to offer consular assistance to any Australian citizen, should it be requested.”
The fire has prompted an outpouring of grief from Australian tourists and former visitors who regarded Chez Gado Gado as a long-standing Bali institution.
For decades, Chez Gado Gado had been a fixture of the Seminyak tourist strip, drawing international visitors with its beachfront setting, sunset views, food and extensive cocktail offerings.
Its destruction has left regular visitors mourning a restaurant that had become part of their Bali holiday traditions.
