Restaurant Fire Started in Cooking Area

The National Fire Authority (NFA) has confirmed that the blaze which engulfed the Aosen Food Takeaways restaurant in Nabua on Sunday started from the cooking area.

NFA chief executive officer, Sowane Puamau, said although they’ve found the starting point of the fire, they were yet to determine what caused the fire.

At around 1.57pm on Sunday, NFA received a distress call about a fire of a structural eatery in Nabua, upon which two trucks and eight officers were dispatched to the scene.

“The concrete structure with corrugated iron roof sustained 80 per cent damage, with the cost of damage is estimated at $100,000,” Mr Puamau said.

“Business owners, especially eatery proprietors need to ensure that flammable items likely to cause a fire are stored properly in a safe space,” he said.

National Fire Authority firefighters attempt to extinguish the fire on April 6, 2025.

“There is also a need for fire safety training for people employed in the eatery business.”

Mr Sowane said high-risk businesses such as restaurants require staff to be prepared to handle fire emergencies.

The training ensures that staff know what to do in the event of a fire, potentially preventing further damage and ensuring safety.

The NFA’s mission is to ensure preservation of life and the environment through community education, disaster and emergency risk reduction.

“We urge eatery owners to exercise caution and fire safety to ensure the sustainability of their businesses,” he said.

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