Thiruvananthapuram: An air conditioner caught fire at the residence of Reji Kumar, a native of Mambazhakunnu, Vattiyoorkavu, Nettayam, early on Friday morning. The blaze broke out in the first-floor bedroom, but no injuries were reported.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel arrived at the scene, extinguished the flames, and ventilated the house, which had been filled with dense smoke. “We received the call at 3.59 am. There was smoke coming from the AC. When we arrived, the three family members were already outside,” said officer Shaheer. “The AC body was melting onto the floor and the curtains were catching fire. We quickly opened all the ventilation and put out the flames. The family had mentioned that maintenance was carried out earlier that day. A short circuit caused the fire.”

“At night, we heard a sound and when we checked, we saw the AC catching fire. We went outside and called the Fire Force, who took care of it. The AC was an old model,” said Reji.

“Low-quality wiring, short circuits, or lack of regular maintenance can cause AC units to catch fire. While installing, it should be ensured that the equipment and wiring are of good quality,” a fire station officer at Vattiyoorkavu told Onmanorama.