Multiple fire incidents reported in Hyderabad as summer heat intensifies

Multiple fire incidents were reported across the city, including a major blaze at a chemical factory in Jeedimetla. Officials have urged residents to follow fire safety measures as rising temperatures increase the risk of such accidents.

Hyderabad: With the onset of summer, fire mishaps have started to peak in and around the city, serving a warning to citizens to implement fire safety measures in their homes, offices and other establishments.

In the early hours of Thursday, a major fire broke out at a chemical solvent factory in Ram Reddy Nagar, Jeedimetla, creating panic in the area. The fire officials received information around 7.23 am, and five fire tenders from Sanathnagar, Kukatpally, Cantonment and Secunderabad were rushed to the spot.

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According to the District Fire Officer Medchal-Malkajgiri District – 2, P Jaya Krishna, fire tenders from nearby fire stations battled for nearly three hours to douse the fire. “The cause of the fire is being investigated. Chemicals were stored in the factory, which led to a huge fire,” he said. The Jeedimetla police arranged JCB and water tankers at the spot to assist the fire personnel, as the owner of the company went into hiding soon after the fire broke out.

Around the same time, another fire was reported in Bahadurpally area of Jeedimetla and a fire tender from Sanathnagar fire station rushed to the spot. The fire was reported at a tent house where a lot of combustible material, including cloth tents and decoration material, was kept. The fire was under control, said officials investigating the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out at a house in Red Hills on Wednesday night following a short circuit in the AC unit. No casualties were reported in the incident. According to the officials, the fire started in the air conditioner unit in the house around midnight and the fire officials were informed. The family was evacuated and the occupants in neighbouring houses were also asked to vacate. A fire tender reached the spot and doused the flames.

In view of the summer, the fire officials suggest that equipment like fire extinguishers, heat detectors, fire hydrant pipelines, and others be installed and thoroughly examined and if needed, with the help of professionals, to avoid failure when they are needed the most. Periodic checking of the electrical switchboards/appliances in the buildings to prevent overheating and short circuits will help to a great extent.

Do’s and Don’ts for residential buildings:

Do’s:

• Keep matches/lighters and crackers away from children

• Use metal ashtrays while smoking and dispose off matches /used cigarettes in them

• Keep the escape routes/staircases free of any obstructions

• Use only one electrical appliance in one socket

• Switch off mains when you go on vacation

• Use three pin plug and heavily insulated cords for all movable electrical equipment

• Keep LPG stoves on a raised platform and well-ventilated place

• Turn off the cylinder valve and burner knob of the gas stove after cooking

• Mount a dry chemical extinguisher to the wall in the kitchen, which should be far from the stove

• Install smoke alarms in every room.

Don’ts:

• Do not meddle with electric fixtures like plugs, wires, switches, and sockets

• Don’t allow children to play in the kitchen

• Never place oil lamps, agarbattis or candles on the floor or near flammable material

• Do not hide behind furniture or in toilets or run up to the terrace in times of fire

• Never reach for any article over a fire

• Never leave an open fire unattended

• Do not dispose off lighted cigarette buds carelessly

• Do not plug too many electrical appliances into one socket