Interior ministry warns as air conditioner fires rise

The interior ministry said Thursday that 160 air conditioner fires occurred from July 1 through Aug. 7, up from 140 a year earlier during the prolonged heat wave. As heat waves prolonged air conditioner operating hours, the ministry urged special caution over fires caused by equipment overheating and electrical faults. The fires were concentrated in late July and early August.

Faulty electrical contacts and other electrical factors accounted for 138 fires, or 86% of the total. Mechanical faults, including overheating, and carelessness each caused six fires, while 10 causes were undetermined.

On Aug. 8, a fire at an apartment's outdoor unit in Haeundae-gu in Busan prompted roughly 50 residents to evacuate. On July 8, a fire believed to have started near an air conditioner in an Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, multi-family home killed an elementary-school-aged brother and sister. Last summer, fires in apartment buildings in Busanjin-gu and Gijang-gun, Busan, believed to have stemmed from overloaded multi-outlet strips killed four children.

The ministry advised users to inspect cables on air conditioners and outdoor units for exposed or damaged insulation. Users should use outlets that meet product-manual capacity standards.

“As heat waves are expected to continue for the time being, we urge people to stop their air conditioners periodically and allow the units to cool sufficiently,” Ha Jong-mok, the ministry's prevention policy bureau director, said.

Outdoor units should be kept free of dust and have adequate ventilation. Outdoor units installed indoors should have windows opened sufficiently, while external units need regular checks for dust and moisture. Users who notice unusual noise, vibrations or a burning smell should stop using the unit and have it inspected by a professional.