Fire-related deaths have risen sharply across Delhi over the past five months. From January to May, the number of fire-related deaths has increased by 62.9% compared to the same period last year.
According to data from the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), accessed by Patriot, there have been a total of 44 deaths till May 24, 2026. During the same period in 2025, from January to May, the total number of deaths recorded was 27.
The total number of deaths peaked in March with 15 fatalities recorded, while 68 others were rescued in the fire. On the other hand, most of the rescues were recorded in April at 119, along with five deaths.
Emergency calls for fire incidents, animal rescues, and other forms of assistance also peaked in April at 3,914. The cumulative number of calls attended by the DFS stood at 15,507. Officials suggested that the spike in April could be linked to a sudden rise in temperature and an increase in fires involving rubbish and dry waste. The data showed that incidents involving such fires rose from 441 in January to 725 in April, indicating a steady upward trend. However, till May 24, the number of garbage fires was recorded at 600.
After March, May recorded the highest number of deaths due to fire incidents with 12 recorded till the 24th, followed by six in both January and February, and five in April.
On May 27 night, Dhanendra Kumar, a retired IAS officer who was also the first chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), lost his life after an air conditioning unit blast resulted in a massive fire across the three-storeyed house at Hauz Khas Enclave. Another devastating fire, also caused by an AC unit blast, engulfed a Vivek Vihar house earlier this month, on May 3, resulting in the deaths of nine persons, including a toddler.
1,021 lives saved
The total death count across all emergency categories stood at 528 during this period. Despite the rising number of fire-related incidents, the prompt response of personnel helped save 1,021 lives, with April alone accounting for 261 rescues — the highest monthly figure this year.
Moreover, according to data collated from the DFS’s online fire report, over 430 emergency calls to the department were recorded in Janakpuri, while Jahangirpuri fire station followed closely with 450 calls from January 1 to May 24, 2026. These were mostly recorded in residential areas, with short circuits and rubbish fires being the main causes.
Notably, the DFS also received two emergency calls from the Delhi Secretariat. While one was a hoax call, the other related to a bush fire. The Secretariat had received a hoax bomb threat in February as well. The Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort, and two schools in the national capital also received bomb threats via email.
More concerning, however, is the pattern in which these calls were received. To put matters into perspective, Janakpuri and Jahangirpuri recorded an average of three calls per day, while the other top five fire stations recorded an average of two calls per day. In April, another concerning trend emerged with a sharp rise in the number of vehicles going up in flames. On multiple occasions, two-wheelers and e-rickshaws were involved in such incidents. When one vehicle caught fire, it often spread to nearby vehicles.
Malfunctioning air conditioners
In 2025, Janakpuri was designated a vulnerable location by the DFS, particularly due to a high concentration of congested residential areas. Officials also point out that the Janakpuri Institutional Area has emerged as a hub of incidents. Many educational and government institutions there operate with outdated safety standards. Hostels located on their fringes have similarly been flagged as fire hazards. Last year in June, along Pankha Road in Janakpuri, two buses were engulfed in a sudden fire. No casualties were reported. Fires caused by malfunctioning air conditioners have also become increasingly common. While many point to rising temperatures, the factors are more complex.
“Heat alone is not the only factor, but it is certainly a major contributing one,” a DFS official said, adding that as temperatures rise, the load on electrical infrastructure increases significantly. Air-conditioning units run continuously, wiring heats up, and transformers operate under stress, increasing the risk of short circuits and fire incidents, the official explained.
The official further noted that the weather is extremely dry at this time, which compounds vulnerability and makes even a small spark dangerous. Once a fire starts, it tends to spread faster than usual under such conditions, he said.
“We observe a seasonal rise in fire incidents during summer months every year, but this time the increase has been sharper,” the official said. “The combination of sustained high temperatures, dry winds, and increased power usage is making the situation more challenging. Our teams are on alert and responding to a significantly higher volume of calls daily,” the official added. The spike in fire calls comes as Delhi continues to reel under high temperatures, ranging from 40 degrees Celsius to 42 degrees Celsius in recent days.
Presently, the Delhi government has amended the fire safety regulations to incorporate fire safety auditors in the national capital. According to a notification issued by the Delhi government, the city has implemented the Delhi Fire Service (Amendment) Rules, 2025.
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The rules state that the private fire safety auditors will now also be engaged to inspect fire safety arrangements in buildings across Delhi.
These individuals or companies will have to be registered with the DFS and designated as ‘Fire Safety Auditors’.
The Fire Safety Certificate, specifically, the Fire NOC (No Objection Certificate) issued by them following a thorough inspection, will be considered valid.
