A serious accident was avoided during a fire in Vile Parle (East) area of Mumbai after a security guard acted quickly to control the blaze near a live gas junction box, officials said on Tuesday.

The incident took place at Mahavir Co-operative Housing Society Limited (CHSL) on V. S. Khandekar Road when a fire broke out in a garbage area following the bursting of firecrackers, they said, adding that the flames came dangerously close to a live gas junction box belonging to Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL).