A 67-year-old man died after a fire broke out inside an HDB flat at Jurong East in the early hours of Sunday (16 August).
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire at Block 339, Jurong East Avenue 1 at around 3.55am.
When firefighters arrived at the HDB block, they found black smoke coming from the living room of a unit on the third floor.
Firefighters had to force their way into the flat to reach the fire and began extinguishing the flames. The fire was confined to items inside the living room and was eventually put out using a water jet.
A person was found unresponsive inside the living room after firefighters entered the unit.
Man Pronounced Dead At The Scene
An SCDF paramedic assessed the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police later confirmed that the deceased was a 67-year-old man.
Preliminary investigations found no indication of foul play, although police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain ongoing.
The cause of the fire has not been disclosed.
The incident occurred while most residents in the neighbourhood were asleep, with emergency crews responding during the early morning hours.
Around 50 Residents Evacuated
As a precautionary measure, approximately 50 residents from the HDB block were evacuated while firefighters dealt with the blaze.
The evacuation was carried out to reduce the risk to residents as emergency personnel entered the affected unit and worked to contain the fire.
Fire incidents in residential properties can spread rapidly, particularly when flames involve furniture, household belongings and other combustible materials. Smoke can also travel beyond the room where a fire starts, creating additional risks for occupants in nearby areas.
Residents were therefore moved out of the block while the emergency response was underway.
There were no reports in the information provided of other residents being injured in the incident.
Police Investigations Underway
The circumstances leading to the fatal fire remain unclear.
Authorities have not indicated what caused the fire to start in the living room, nor have they released further details about the deceased man’s circumstances.
Police have stated that no foul play is suspected based on preliminary investigations.
Investigations will continue as authorities work to establish the cause and circumstances of the fire.
The incident serves as another reminder of the importance of fire safety in Singapore homes, particularly in older HDB flats where residents may need to react quickly if smoke or flames are detected.
Residents who discover a fire should raise the alarm, leave the affected area as quickly as possible and contact the emergency services rather than attempting to tackle a rapidly developing fire themselves.
With the investigation still ongoing, further information may be released by the authorities once more details about the incident at Jurong East Avenue 1 have been established.