Heatwave triggers spike in vehicle fire incidents across the Capital
On Tuesday afternoon, a car burst into flames on a busy arterial corridor in south Delhi as the city sweltered under temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius. The fire appeared to start at the front of the vehicle and rapidly spread across the entire car within minutes. Eyewitnesses reported massive flames and dense smoke rising from the middle of the road, forcing nearby vehicles to slow down. Authorities reached the spot to control the situation and clear the road. No injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation.
Tuesday’s incident was a visible moment in a pattern that has been building through the summer. More than 7,800 fire-related emergencies have been reported across the Capital in the first four months of 2026, over 2,300 of them in April alone, marking a nearly 20 per cent increase from the same period last year. In April, a sharp rise in vehicles going up in flames was recorded, with two-wheelers and e-rickshaws involved in multiple incidents.
A Delhi Fire Services official explained the underlying mechanics, “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 cab driver in the Capital he had started keeping the bonnet open during long breaks between rides. “If I keep the engine running with the AC on for more than an hour in a traffic jam, the temperature gauge goes to the red,” he said. “I have seen two cars catch fire this month near Ashram Chowk. Both times the car was stuck in traffic.” He said he now carries a small fire extinguisher in his vehicle, something he never thought necessary before this summer.
Similarly, a mechanic who has been servicing cars for nearly two decades said May 2026 has been his busiest month ever. “I am seeing overheating complaints every single day. People come in with coolant problems, radiator failures, and wiring issues. The heat outside means the engine has to work much harder just to maintain a normal temperature. If there is any existing weakness in the system, this weather finds it,” he said.
A used car dealer said he had started adding a caution about summer maintenance to every vehicle he sold. “Earlier, it was only something you told buyers of old cars. Now I am telling everyone. Even relatively new vehicles are at risk if the coolant levels are not checked, if the wiring has any wear, or if the AC compressor is running under full load for hours.”
The DFS has been attending around 120 calls a day in April, compared to about 70 to 80 calls in preceding months. Fire-related emergencies surged by 73 percent in April compared to March, with 32 people losing their lives in fire accidents between January and April this year.
The IMD, in its heatwave advisory, has specifically told vehicle owners to keep fire extinguishers in their cars and to regularly check wiring, engine temperature, and fuel systems during peak summer. Experts warn that extreme summer temperatures increase the risk of vehicle fires, particularly when engines overheat or electrical systems malfunction, and that continuous exposure to scorching heat, long driving hours, fuel leakage, poor maintenance, or short circuits can trigger such incidents.