Fire breaks out at Noida apartment after AC blasts amid intense heat: Video

A massive fire broke out in a flat in Noida, on the outskirts of India's national capital, on the morning of Thursday (May 30) after an air conditioner exploded.

As per the preliminary reports, no casualties were reported in the incident which happened at Lotus Boulevard Society in Sector 100.

The fire broke out at a time when North India was battling a scorching heatwave. As the fire blaze rose from the apartment, the residents panicked.

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People who were living in the nearby flats rushed to the ground floor after seeing heavy smoke coming out from the affected flat.

Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar Choubey, while speaking to local media, said that the fire service unit received a call from the locals and society residents regarding the incident at 10.10 am (local time).

"We immediately rushed five vehicles (water tenders) to the spot. But before our vehicles could reach there, the firefighting systems installed in the society managed to put out the fire within 10 minutes," Choubey said.

"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)," he added, further stating that no loss of life or injury to any person was reported in the incident.

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Meanwhile, sub-inspector Ankit Bajpayee said, “It came to light that the outdoor unit of AC, which was installed in the balcony of the 10th-floor flat suddenly blasted when family members, including children, were inside.”

“All are safe. No injuries have been reported and the fire was controlled before it could spread further”, he added.

Here's how you can save your AC from exploding

An "AC blast" means a fire or an explosion in an air conditioning (AC) unit. This can happen because of different reasons like electrical or mechanical failures, as per the officials.Here's what you can do to keep your air-conditioning safe.

Regularly change air filters

A clogged filter stops airflow because of which the AC has to work harder and it overheats. Hence, it is advisable to regularly change it.

Keep outdoor unit clean

Twigs, leaves and other kinds of dirt can block the condenser coils and decrease efficiency while increasing the chances of overheating. Hence, the outdoor unit should be kept clean.

Watch:Rajkot Game Zone Fire: Special investigation team formed to probe cause & lapses

Ensure proper airflow

Keep the area around the outdoor unit clean and ensure proper airflow in the unit by not placing anything at least in the two feet area around it.

Do not use an extension cord

Dedicated circuits are required in the AC units and hence, an extension cord can overload the circuit and eventually lead to overheating.

Timely maintenance

The air-conditioners should have regular maintenance by a qualified technician who can check wiring and loose connections, if any.

Beware of unusual signs in AC

Any odours or unusual noises can be a sign of some major issue in the AC unit and hence, one must notice such signals and take required action.

(With inputs from agencies)