India, April 30 -- More than 7,800 fire-related emergencies have been reported across the capital in the first four months of 2026, with over 2,300 (around 30 per cent) incidents in April alone, with rising summer heat exacerbating fire risks across the city. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) attended 7,801 fire calls till April 27, which is 1,290 more than the 6,511 cases reported during the corresponding period last year, marking a nearly 20 per cent increase, according to official data. In April, as many as 2,375 fire-related cases were reported till the 27th, slightly lower than the 2,688 calls till April 27 last year, a decline of 313 incidents or nearly 12 per cent. Also Read - Temp drops, clean air, rain, extreme heat Yet, April recorded 837 more incidents than March, a rise of about 54 per cent, showing a sharp uptick as temperatures spiked. The upward trend of fire incidents has been visible since the beginning of the year. In January, the DFS handled 1,396 calls, up from 938 last year, an increase of 458 incidents or around 49 per cent. The spike was sharper in February, with 2,492 calls compared to 1,076 in February last year, an increase of over 130 per cent, the data shows. Number of cases fell slightly in March, with 1,538 calls this year against 1,809 in the month last year, a drop of 271 incidents or about 15 per cent. Also Read - Retd engineer duped of over Rs 10 cr in 'digital arrest' scam; CBI takes over case Officials said the increase in fire incidents is largely linked to summer conditions. Rising temperatures prompt increased use of air conditioners and other electrical appliances, putting more load on wiring and transformers, while dry weather makes it easier for fires to spread. "There is no single specific reason behind the increase in fire calls. Heat is not the only factor, but it is certainly a major one. As temperatures rise, the load on the electrical infrastructure increases significantly. Air conditioners run continuously, wiring heats up, and transformers operate under stress, which raises the chances of short circuits and fire incidents," a DFS official stated. Fire incidents have risen sharply in Delhi, with the DFS attending around 120 calls daily in April, up from 70-80 in previous months. On some days, calls touched 200 amid intense heat, including major blazes in Palam that killed nine and Laxmi Nagar where 14 were rescued. with agency inputs

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