Minor fire breaks out at PWD office in Chepauk

The air conditioner in the director’s cabin overheated and caught fire

A minor fire broke out at the Land Surveyor’s office in the new Ezhilagam building in Chepauk on Saturday morning.

Fire officers said they received a call from the workers in the building around 11.15 a.m., and found that the Assistant Director’s room and its surroundings were filled with smoke. “There was heavy smoke and it took us time to detect the problem,” said an officer.

The fire and rescue services personnel later broke open the glass window to let the smoke out, and found that the air conditioner in the Director’s cabin had caught fire.

“It became overheated and this led to the fire. Luckily, there were no casualties or major damage,” the officer said. The air conditioner and a computer in the 20 X 20 ft room were damaged in the fire.

Officers said while nobody was injured, the situation could have been avoided if they had fire sprinklers. “We keep telling the public to install one at homes and offices. This is one of the main offices in the State, and we hope the officials take the necessary steps,” the officer said.

Fire officers say

the situation could have been avoided

if there were

fire sprinklers