New Delhi: Around three to four residential buildings in the city report blazes every day on average, according to Delhi Fire Services data. Between April 2025 and March 2026, the department received 1,318 such calls.Comparative data shows an increase in overall fire-related calls in 2026. Between Jan 1 and April 15 this year, a total of 11,590 such calls were received, compared with 10,957 during the same three-and-a-half-month period in 2025. “This year, more than 25 people have died and over 120 injured in such incidents,” a fire service officer said.
In most of these cases, short circuits were the primary cause of fire, the official said. While people continue to add electrical appliances to their houses, the wiring is often not upgraded accordingly, leading to excessive load on electrical systems, which can spark blazes, he added.In many cases, residents don’t pay attention to planning proper escape routes in case of blazes. Often, no second escape route is created, and the only available exit is poorly planned — either located near an electricity meter board or opening into the parking area. If a fire breaks out, the lone exit route can quickly be blocked due to smoke, heat or burning vehicles, leaving people with little to no chance of escape.Another officer said that in many cases, people forget to turn off cylinder valves, which can lead to gas leaks, blasts or secondary fires. Unsafe cooking practices at home are also a major trigger for such blazes. “People often use cooking gas while talking on mobile phones or watching television. They leave milk or other liquids on the stove and step away. When it overflows, it can extinguish the flame while the gas continues to leak. Later, when the person returns and attempts to relight the burner, it can suddenly catch fire or even lead to an explosion,” the officer added.According to fire safety rules in Delhi, residential buildings taller than 15 metres or those with ground-plus-four or more floors, including mezzanine levels, are required to obtain fire safety no-objection certificates (NOCs). They are meant to ensure that basic fire prevention and safety systems are in place before the residents move in.However, many such buildings do not have valid fire NOCs, which means there is little to no regulatory check on their construction and safety standards, the officer said. This means As a result, many of these structures are built without proper fire-safety planning or compliance with mandatory norms.“Calls regarding residential fires account for the highest number when we talk of structural blazes. Many of these buildings don’t install essential firefighting systems, such as alarms, sprinklers or extinguishers,” the official added.
