AC short circuits spark two fires; CFO calls for safety audits

Lucknow: Suspected electrical short circuits in air conditioners sparked two separate fires in the city on Monday, including a major blaze that gutted a footwear shop on Kursi Road and forced the evacuation of five adjoining outlets.

The incidents prompted the fire department to reiterate the need for periodic electrical safety audits, particularly during peak summer when cooling appliances run for extended hours.The more serious fire was reported at 11:58 am at a footwear shop opposite Mahavir Inter College under Vikas Nagar police limits. Initial assessment indicated the fire may have originated from an air-conditioner short circuit.

The shop, owned by Mohammad Sameer and Mohammad Haseen, operated on the ground and first floors in a tightly packed commercial stretch, with residential houses located behind the market line.Police and local responders began evacuating nearby premises as flames spread quickly through the shop. Five adjacent shops were cleared and residents from nearby houses were moved out as a precaution. LPG cylinders and other inflammable materials were removed from the vicinity to reduce the risk of explosions.

Traffic on Kursi Road was temporarily diverted to allow emergency vehicles access and to create space for firefighting operations.Fire tenders from Indira Nagar, Hazratganj and BKT stations reached the location within minutes and contained the blaze before it could spread to surrounding structures, claimed fire officials.The shop suffered extensive damage, but no injuries were reported.Earlier, at around 8:45 am, another suspected AC-related short circuit triggered a fire in a fifth-floor room at Fai Heights, a stay-home apartment in Nandi Vihar Colony under Chinhat police limits.

Police evacuated occupants and alerted the fire department. Three fire tenders were deployed and the fire was controlled within about 30 minutes.The second incident remained confined to one room, damaging furniture, an air conditioner and parts of the interior. Three guests staying on the affected floor were safely evacuated.Chief fire officer Ankush Mittal said the incidents highlight hazards linked to overloading and poorly maintained wiring, urging routine inspections, servicing of AC units, and checks of load capacity and worn components.