Too many cooks spoil the soup but all missing from the kitchen can be disastrous.
In the case of homes in Fiji, leaving the stove unattended has led to many fires.
National Fire Authority (NFA) chief executive, John O'Connor said unattended cooking was the third highest cause of structural fires in the country.
Mr O'Connor said any distraction while cooking food could destroy homes.
"These fires can be prevented if extra precautions are taken while cooking," he said.
Mr O'Connor said they also noted that many house fires started from kitchens.