Extension cords overheating and creating fire hazards when powering high-draw appliances

Homeowners using standard extension cords with high-power devices like air conditioners face dangerous overheating that can cause fires, property damage, or injury. Current solutions (thicker cords, multiple outlets) are either impractical, expensive, or people don't know which cord rating they need. The problem is urgent because it creates immediate safety risks that people discover only after the cord starts getting dangerously hot.