Heritage-Conscious Fire Protection of Urban Housing in Denpasar and Badung, Bali

Denpasar and Badung in Bali possess a rich cultural legacy, exemplified by bamboo and thatch buildings situated at significant locations. Fire hazards are significant in these "embedded" urban settlements due to extremely flammable construction materials, igniting sources from ceremonies and daily activities, as well as evacuation and accessibility issues. Interventions that lack sustainable profitability, cultural relevance, and technical precision endanger the preservation of living heritage and human safety. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive, evidence-based framework that includes multi-tiered fire protection measures that are effective and preserve Bali's urban history and cultural identity. A combination of methodologies is employed to examine the design constraints, governance issues, and fire hazards associated with culturally significant Balinese urban residences in Badung and Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Field surveys, semi-structured interviews, historical disaster risk reduction principles, and cultural heritage concepts were employed to develop a Bali Fire Risk Index (FR). The index consists of material vulnerability (M), ignition sources (I), building density (D), evacuation/access (E), and defence capacity. A convergent technique examines 120 residences in Denpasar and Badung, Indonesia, to develop quantitative fire risk profiles. The profiles illustrate product classification and historical methodologies. It offers qualitative insights on retrofitting, community resilience, and governance. Fires can rapidly propagate in highly populated urban environments utilizing thatch and bamboo materials. Furthermore, ceremonial ignition areas are more prone to experiencing their inception. In densely populated areas adjacent to sacred sites, bamboo and thatch structures exhibit low fire resistance. Furthermore, composite evacuation materials often exhibit diminished fire resistance. The majority of individuals encounter difficulties in upgrading due to governmental and financial apprehensions. The study provides civil engineers and architects with pragmatic guidance on materials, design, evacuation procedures, and regulatory compliance. This research intends to develop a fire prevention strategy tailored for Bali. This framework must protect Bali's expanding urban region and its citizens to assist elected authorities, families, and communities.