A newly installed air conditioner caused a fire that destroyed the kitchen of a pensioner couple in Novosibirsk, Telegram channel Baza reported.
The fire occurred due to an equipment installation error by a hired professional technician. While drilling into the wall, the installer hit a metal pin but did not stop. When the metal became red hot, the technician sprayed it with water from a syringe, secured the air conditioner, and left. The couple smelled burning in the apartment two hours later, but when they complained, the technician advised them to air out the room.
During the night, the wife woke up to a sound resembling a crackling campfire and found the kitchen engulfed in flames and smoke. The couple called emergency services and fought the fire with buckets of water while waiting for responders to arrive. The split system cost the couple 43,000 rubles, while the cost of repairing the kitchen was not specified.
Fire safety risks
Fire safety expert Vitaly Boyko previously warned about the risks of air conditioner fires. He stated that equipment can ignite because of power surges or under high temperature conditions.
