In time, a sudden fire erupted at Mandrem, Goa, near a beachside property close to three cottages. Local residents and tourists fled amid what appeared to be panic as fire engines blasted out.
Officials said the alarm back then had been attended by emergency rescue forces from Pernem’s Fire Station, which arrived at the scene when things got worse. The personnel of the rescue unit were working to put out the fire. Pernem Fire Station in-charge Namdev Pawar verified the incident.
The action started at three cottages near a beachside property in Mandrem. “We are right there, the guys coming down to put the flames out,” he said. Officials said dense clouds of smoke poured into the air as flames broke through the buildings, temporary or semi-permanent beach cottages in which tourists flocked.
The exact cause of the fire continues to be unknown. Early accounts suggest that the dry weather and flammable materials used to build the cottages helped it spread fast. Local law enforcement quickly barricaded the area of the fire, in both an effort to mitigate injury and also to help with a firefighting effort.
#WATCH | Goa | Fire broke out at three cottages near a beachside property in Mandrem, emergency teams rushing to the spot to bring the situation under control: Namdev Pawar, incharge Pernem Fire Station
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2026
(Video Source: Goa Police) pic.twitter.com/AKsC6GfyfH
That way they were not blocking the road. As curious passersby gathered around the area, police were also called to patrol for those visitors and to maintain order. And although Mandrem has been popular for years with tourists, it is always good to know that, even until now, no injuries, no deaths have been reported.
But on a local level, officials have not determined that any damage to property could be catastrophic, given how close the cottages were to one another and how quickly fire spread around them. Firefighters are also reporting on a number of water tenders and preventative measures that help keep fire out of nearby buildings or plants. The authorities said they’d also advised local homeowners and residents to err on the side of caution and follow safety guidance.
The incident comes in a series of complaints about the fire-safety features of beach properties constructed predominantly of wood, bamboo and thatch, a very fragile material to fires and fire hazards. But after a generation, experts still emphasise that not only are restrictions essential, but regular inspections of safety would certainly be necessary. It would be necessary, given that thousands of tourists are in the city. The fire will be out entirely, and an investigation will begin.
And if absolutely required, all caused damage would be carefully investigated by the authorities. They have to know how it got to be, you cannot have something like this. The fire department moved quickly to head off the events that could have developed into a serious incident.
