At approximately 7:30 am today, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) sprang into action after being alerted about a raging fire at a shophouse unit located at 61, Geylang Lorong 27. The incident brought about a swift and efficient response from the SCDF, preventing a potentially major disaster.
Upon arrival, SCDF firefighters were met with a terrifying sight as flames engulfed the 3rd floor of the shophouse unit. The fire had already burned through the roof and was dangerously spreading to an adjacent unit via the rooftop. The situation called for immediate and robust action.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the SCDF quickly deployed a total of 12 emergency vehicles and around 50 firefighters to the scene. The firefighting operation reached its peak intensity as four powerful water jets were employed to bring the blaze under control, battling against the destructive force that threatened the neighborhood.
The authorities sprang into action not only to combat the fire but also to ensure the safety of residents in the vicinity. Around 30 occupants from neighboring shophouse units were promptly evacuated by both the Police and SCDF personnel, ensuring their safety and minimizing the potential risk to life.
The combined efforts of the firefighters and emergency responders bore fruit as they managed to fully extinguish the fire within an hour of battling the flames. Thanks to their swift and efficient action, there were no reported injuries during the incident, averting what could have been a tragedy.
Following the successful containment of the fire, the SCDF initiated a damping down operation. This essential process involves applying water to the burnt surfaces immediately after the fire is extinguished. Its purpose is to prevent any potential rekindling of the fire from the still-hot burnt surfaces, ensuring that the area remains safe and secure.
As of now, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The SCDF and relevant authorities are working diligently to determine the factors that led to the outbreak of the blaze. This investigation will be crucial in understanding the incident’s root cause and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
SCDF’s statement
[Fire @ 61, Geylang Lorong 27]
At about 7:30am today, SCDF was alerted to a fire at the abovementioned location.
Upon SCDF’s arrival, fire was raging at the 3rd floor of a shophouse unit. The fire had burnt through the roof and was spreading to the adjacent unit via the rooftop.
SCDF deployed 12 emergency vehicles and about 50 firefighters to the incident. At the height of the firefighting operation, four water jets were used to bring the fire under control. About 30 occupants from the neighbouring shophouse units were evacuated by the Police and SCDF.
The fire was fully extinguished within an hour and there were no reported injuries. Damping down operation* is ongoing.
The cause of fire is under investigation.
*Damping down refers to the application of water to wet burnt surfaces immediately after a fire is put out. It is to prevent any potential rekindle of fire from the hot burnt surfaces.