A stranded German tourist who ignored a hiking ban was rescued from a volcano fire in Indonesia.

The Bavarian woman and her Russian companion, both not named in local reports, reportedly flouted warnings to climb up Mount Agung without a guide in Bali, Indonesia, on October 13.

However, they were unable to return to their lodging as a forest fire erupted on the mountain on Sunday evening. They were said to have spent a night at the summit of the volcano before the Russian tourist braved the wildfire to ask the locals for help.

Gede Mundut, a tour guide who was part of the rescue team, said: 'The tourist who went back down first reported to the guide on duty at the entrance post. This guest was worried that something would happen to his friend, because the fire was still burning the forest around the place where they were located.'

A team of around 20 rescuers launched a search mission early morning on October 14. They saved the disheveled and exhausted German woman at 10pm local time.

Ida Bagus Ketut Arimbawa, head of the Karangasem Regional Disaster Management Agency, said the fire may have been sparked by dry conditions and strong winds fanning the flames.

He said: 'Extinguishing efforts have not been carried out because of the difficult access to the fire location, which requires a travel time of around four hours. In the meantime, we are conducting intensive monitoring from Pura Pengubengan temple near the mountain.'

The hiking trail was closed on October 1 for a religious ceremony that takes place at Pasar Agung Temple on Mount Agung every 10 years. It was scheduled to reopen on November 30.

I Wayan Suara Arsana, public relations officer at the temple, said: 'Such actions are certainly very unfortunate, because the ban on tourism to Mount Agung is ignored. In fact, this ban is only carried out during the work carried out once every 10 years. We have tried to disseminate information about this hiking ban. Maybe there are tourists or operators who don't know. We understand that not everyone is informed as our reach is limited.'

Mount Agung, Bali's highest peak, holds religious significance to Balinese Hindus who believe it is the abode of the gods.