MAPUSA
A fire broke out at a rented house at Portawaddo, Siolim, on Friday afternoon, gutting household belongings and causing an estimated loss of around Rs 5 lakh.
The fire was reported at around 2 pm after the occupant noticed flames emerging from a refrigerator.
The owner reportedly attempted to douse the fire with water twice but was unsuccessful.
The Mapusa Fire Station was alerted and a team led by Sub Officer Omkar Karbotkar rushed to the spot.
Fire personnel, including leading firefighter Suraj Shetgaonkar, Govind Desai, Girish Gawas, Chandrakant Naik and Saidutt Arolkar, battled the blaze.
Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control and prevented it from spreading to two adjoining rooms. They also safely removed gas cylinders and gold ornaments from the premises.
Electrical and household appliances, clothes and other belongings were destroyed in the fire.
A short circuit in the refrigerator is suspected to have caused the blaze.
