A serious cooking accident in Lakeville, Massachusetts, resulted in burn injuries for two people, one of them critically, yesterday. Lakeville Fire Department was dispatched to a residence on Woodland Ridge Drive following a report of a flash fire related directly to the preparation of a traditional Portuguese dish. According to NBC Boston, the victims were injured when a gust of wind blew through an open window causing the flame, that was being used to cook the dish, known as Chouriço à Bombeiro, to unexpectedly spread throughout the kitchen.

The man injured in the accident was airlifted to Rhode Island Hospital to receive treatment for significant burn injuries, while a girl, also hurt, was taken to St. Luke's Hospital, her injuries were reportedly non-serious. "Due to the severity of the injuries suffered by the man, a medical helicopter was requested and responded to a nearby landing zone," as noted in a statement obtained by WHDH News. Quick action from bystanders, who used household items such as towels, rugs, and blankets to smother the flames, helped to prevent a more severe outcome.

Brief investigations into the kitchen incident have suggested that it was an isolated accident. The Lakeville Fire Department emphasized that all necessary precautions were typically taken by the homeowners, implying no wrongdoing. "They took many precautions. They've done successfully in the past for many years," Deputy Chief Pamela Garant told NBC Boston affiliate WJAR. "This was just the one incident where things went awry."

Lakeville Fire Chief Mike O’Brien recognized the swift and professional handling of the incident by the emergency services. "Our firefighters and paramedics did an outstanding job of quickly and professionally managing the incident, providing advanced medical care to these victims," O'Brien told WHDH News.