AC fire at Noida flat: Fires official’s two important tips on how to prevent AC blasts

A fire broke out inside a flat in a posh high-rise society in Noida earlier this week. The fire is said to have been caused due to a blast in a split air conditioner (split AC) unit in the house. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident. “The fire was triggered by a blast in the AC (air conditioner). Since the firefighting systems like sprinklers, extinguishers, hoses, were working fine, the fire did not spread out much and was contained in one room (of the flat),” Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar Choubey.

What Fire Department chief said

“The temperature outside is nearly 50 degrees Celsius, leading to higher usage of air conditioners and a surge in power demand. I want to request people not to use their ACs throughout the day,” said Choubey. The chief fire officer also said that it is important to get your ACs services regularly and don’t put extra load on them. He added that many fire incidents reported in the city this summer season are related to ACs.

What exactly is an AC blast
An “AC blast” refers to an explosion or fire involving an air conditioning (AC) unit. According to fire officials, such incidents can occur due to various factors, often related to electrical or mechanical failures.
Delhi reporting over 200 fire incidents per day
The soaring temperatures have caused a significant increase in fire incidents in Delhi-NCR. “We are receiving more than 200 fire-related calls per day, this is the highest in the last 10 years… All equipment and manpower are stretched, it’s a tough time for the Delhi Fire Department. 12 people including children have so far died in May in Delhi… We are mainly receiving calls from industrial areas related to industry and godowns, and in these areas, it takes more time… If the temperature rises by just 1 degree more, I think the calls will cross 250 per day. We have adopted new technologies. Many of the equipment like drones… are there that the fire department has bought for the first time,” Delhi Fire Department Director Atul Garg told ANI.
Read Also | AC blast causes fire at Noida high-rise flat: Simple tips to prevent your AC from catching fire