FIRE POWER: The beach shack that was destroyed in the blaze on Sunday. (Right) The charred remains of the equipment.
VASCO
A major fire broke out at the popular beachside restaurant and shack, ‘Jamming Goat’, at Utorda beach in the early hours of Sunday, causing extensive damage to the property and resulting in losses estimated at around Rs 10 lakh.
According to fire department records, the incident occurred when flames were reported from the shack premises located at Utorda. Fire and Emergency Services received the call at 8.35 am and immediately mobilised fire tenders from Verna and Margao fire stations. Firefighters reached the spot at around 8.55 am and worked swiftly to bring the blaze under control.
Officials said the fire completely destroyed kitchen equipment and the bar counter, while timely intervention helped save the entire sitting-area furniture, estimated to be worth approximately Rs 2 lakh. No injuries were reported as the shack was closed at the time and was reportedly undergoing maintenance work.
Senior fire officials present at the site included Station Fire Officer Dilesh Gaonkar, along with Sub Officers Deepak Jadave and R S Kutkar, who supervised the firefighting operations until the flames were fully extinguished.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Fire department officials have recorded the cause as “not known” and further investigation is expected. However, the shack owner has expressed suspicion that fireworks used at a nearby event venue may have triggered the blaze.
Police and fire officials are continuing their inquiry to determine the exact cause of the fire, even as the incident has once again raised concerns over fire safety norms and monitoring of beachside establishments during the peak tourist season.
