Greater Noida West : Panic rippled through residents of La Residentia society on Saturday after a vehicle and, earlier reports show, an apartment in the complex have caught fire in separate incidents, spotlighting persistent gaps in fire prevention and readiness across Noida–Greater Noida housing complexes.

What happened

Multiple short videos and eyewitness posts shared on social platforms show flames and heavy smoke at La Residentia. The most recent round of posts and short videos indicate a parked SUV (reported as a Scorpio) in the society’s parking area suddenly caught fire; social clips show residents and security staff scrambling while the blaze was brought under control without reports of casualties so far.

This is not the first time earlier also : a flat in La Residentia’s Tower 8 was reported to have caught fire several years ago underlining that fires are not new to this development.

On-the-ground realities reported by residents

Video clips and resident posts from La Residentia showed:

• Rapid smoke and flame in a parking or ground-floor area
• Immediate community response, neighbours and security attempting initial containment, but no visible, certified firefighting infrastructure being deployed in those clips.

What this means for residents and RWAs

Even when a particular incident causes no injuries, repeated occurrences expose systemic risk. Key concerns for residents and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) include:

• Whether the society holds a valid fire NOC (No Objection Certificate) and when it was last renewed.
• Functional condition of detection (smoke/heat detectors), alarms, water pumps, hydrants and sprinklers.
• Staff training and the presence of basic firefighting kits in each block and common areas.
• Clarity on vehicle-parking rules to reduce ignition risks and safe storage of LPG/cylinders in residences.

Immediate steps recommended (practical checklist)

1. Demand a copy of the society’s fire NOC and the latest inspection report from the RWA.
2. Insist on an immediate audit of fire-fighting equipment (extinguishers, pumps, hose reels, sprinklers) and public sharing of the audit findings.
3. Request/fund a certified maintenance check and refilling of extinguishers, testing of pumps, and servicing of alarm systems.
4. Organize a fire drill with the local fire department and make basic extinguisher training mandatory for security and volunteers.
5. Keep emergency numbers and a simple evacuation plan visible on each floor and in common areas. (Noida/Greater Noida fire control rooms and UP Fire Services listings are public resources.)