Eyewitness News – BADUNG
9 September 2026
In light of circulating reports regarding the fire at Gado Gado Restaurant, the family of Ms. Caitlin feels compelled to issue a clarification to prevent misunderstandings and mitigate speculation that could damage their reputation.
Ms. Caitlin, an Australian national, attended the restaurant with her family to celebrate her mother’s birthday, having previously reserved a table with the venue.
Prior to the event, Ms. Caitlin notified the restaurant management that the family would bring balloons as part of the celebration’s decorations. The balloons were ordered through Instagram, with follow-up communications conducted via WhatsApp a day prior.
On the day of the event, the vendor delivered the balloons directly to the restaurant staff, who then placed them near the family’s reserved table.
Noticing that the balloons obstructed a walkway, Ms. Caitlin requested the restaurant staff to relocate them on three separate occasions. However, staff members assured her that the placement was fine.
Shortly after the family was seated and food was served, candles on the table—which are standard at the establishment—were moved to the edge, away from the balloons.
During the singing of “Happy Birthday,” the balloons suddenly exploded, igniting a flash fire that struck Ms. Caitlin’s child, causing burns to the child’s arm.
Amid the chaos, Ms. Caitlin warned bystanders to move away from the flames. The fire rapidly spread due to the restaurant’s thatched roof structure and a lack of readily available fire extinguishers, ultimately engulfing the entire building.
The family expressed deep concern over the incident, noting that in addition to the establishment’s losses, Ms. Caitlin’s child sustained burn injuries to their left arm.
STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY
The family rejects any assertion that they were deliberately or automatically responsible for the fire.
They attended as patrons for a private celebration. The presence of the balloons was communicated in advance, accepted by restaurant staff upon delivery, and placed inside the venue by the management. Furthermore, requests to move the balloons were repeatedly dismissed by staff.
Consequently, the family maintains that the cause of the fire should not be presumed solely based on the presence of balloons, but must be determined through a comprehensive police investigation.
Ms. Caitlin’s family has complied with police inquiries at the Kuta Police Station and remains fully cooperative with authorities. As Australian citizens, they respect Indonesian law and trust law enforcement to identify the cause and any responsible parties based on official evidence.
The family urges the public and the media to refrain from making premature conclusions or allegations pending the outcome of the police investigation, requesting balanced reporting to ensure no party is unfairly blamed prior to legal findings.
This clarification is issued to respect the ongoing legal process and correct misinformation.
The statement was authorized directly by Ms. Caitlin through her legal counsel in Bali; Elisabeth Sanam, S.H., I Nyoman Katun Suyasa, S.H., and Ni Luh Manggreni, S.H.
Reporter: Daniel Herry
