An early morning fire at a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Tampines led to the evacuation of about 30 residents and left two people, including a firefighter, needing hospital treatment.
The blaze broke out at Block 366 Tampines Street 34 on the morning of May 21. Emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 5.35am, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
The fire reportedly involved the living room and kitchen area of a 10th-floor flat. SCDF officers deployed two water jets to contain and extinguish the flames.
Before firefighters arrived, two occupants from the affected unit had already evacuated safely from the flat.
Photos shared online showed thick smoke stains around the windows of the unit, while several police cars and SCDF emergency vehicles were seen gathered at the foot of the block during the operation.
About 30 Residents Evacuated As Precaution
As a safety measure, approximately 30 residents living in nearby units were evacuated while firefighters dealt with the situation.
A resident from a neighbouring unit was later conveyed to Singapore General Hospital after suffering smoke inhalation.
Separately, an SCDF firefighter experienced discomfort in his right leg following the operation and was taken to Changi General Hospital for medical attention.
Authorities have not disclosed the severity of the injuries sustained by either individual.
Tampines Member of Parliament Charlene Chen said in an Instagram update that she was alerted to the incident between 5am and 6am.
She thanked officers from the Singapore Police Force and SCDF for their quick response, adding that she was relieved there were no major casualties from the incident.
Support Being Provided To Affected Family
According to the MP, several organisations and volunteers quickly stepped in to support the family affected by the fire.
These included Tampines Town Council, HDB officers, Tampines East Community Club, as well as grassroots volunteers from Tampines East Zone 8 Residents’ Network.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
SCDF Reminds Residents About Fire Safety
Following the incident, SCDF reminded members of the public about common causes of residential fires in Singapore.
The agency said unattended cooking, electrical faults, and unattended lighted materials remain among the leading causes of home fires.
Residents were advised not to leave cooking unattended, avoid overloading electrical sockets, and refrain from charging electronic devices overnight without supervision.
SCDF also reminded smokers and worshippers to ensure cigarettes, incense, and other lighted materials are fully extinguished before disposal.