A property at the Nawaicoba Agriculture Research Station in Nadi was destroyed in a fire, and the National Fire Authority (NFA) is urging members of the public not to leave cooking unattended.
NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane says the incident is another reminder that fires caused by unattended cooking continue to increase and remain one of the most preventable causes of residential fires.
He says the authority is deeply concerned by the growing number of fires linked to unattended cooking.
The NFA says it received a report of the fire at 8:49am via the Nadi Fire Station radio network. Two fire appliances responded immediately with 10 on-duty firefighters and two off-duty firefighters, travelling about 14 kilometres to the scene.
Firefighters arrived at 9:12am to find an outdoor corrugated iron and timber kitchen fully engulfed in flames beside staff quarters.
Crews immediately established a hose line using the appliance's onboard water supply to prevent the fire from spreading to the nearby quarters.
The blaze was quickly extinguished, preventing what could have become a much larger incident.
While the outdoor kitchen was completely destroyed, the adjacent staff quarters sustained only minor damage.
The outdoor kitchen, measuring approximately six feet by 11 feet, belonged to the Ministry of Agriculture and was uninsured. The estimated damage is $5,000.
Initial information gathered at the scene indicates that firewood cooking had taken place at about 7pm the previous evening, and the occupant was at work when the fire occurred.
NFA fire investigators will conduct a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Sowane says whether people are using a gas stove, electric stove or cooking over firewood, a fire can start and spread within minutes if it is left unattended.
He says many people believe they can step away briefly to answer a phone call, attend to children or carry out another task, but that short moment can be enough for a small flame to become a devastating fire.
Sowane is urging everyone to remain with their cooking at all times until it is completely finished.
He says simple actions can prevent significant loss.
The CEO is reminding people that if they need to leave the cooking area, they should turn off the heat or ensure the fire is completely extinguished before walking away.
He says a moment of distraction can result in the loss of a home, valuable property and, in some cases, lives, adding that everyone has a responsibility to make fire safety a daily habit.
The National Fire Authority continues to urge members of the public to remain vigilant and to report any fire emergency immediately by calling 910.
