S’pore teen, 18, rushes into Buangkok flat fire to save grandfather & grandson
An 18-year-old ITE student has been praised for his quick thinking after rushing to help his neighbours when a fire broke out in their flat at Buangkok Crescent.
The teenager, identified as Zhou Yiheng in reports, grabbed a fire extinguisher and entered the smoke-filled unit after hearing cries for help. He also helped an elderly man and an eight-year-old boy escape the flat before allowing the family to temporarily stay at his home.
The incident happened at Block 979B Buangkok Crescent at around 12.25am. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire involving the contents of a bedroom on the second floor.
SCDF firefighters eventually extinguished the blaze using a water jet. One person was taken to Sengkang General Hospital, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Teen hears cries for help
According to Shin Min Daily News, the flat was occupied by 31-year-old Sang Ting’s elderly parents and his eight-year-old son when the fire broke out.
Sang Ting said his father had been resting on a bed when an electrical circuit near a window apparently malfunctioned, triggering the fire. His father managed to get out of the room, while his mother ran outside to seek help from neighbours.
Zhou, who has known the family since he was a child because their families were close, was at home using his phone when he heard the sound of breaking glass followed by cries for help.
When he opened his door, he saw his neighbour asking for assistance and noticed that the corridor was already filled with thick smoke.
Knowing that an elderly man and a child were still inside, Zhou immediately grabbed a fire extinguisher. He also covered his nose and mouth with a wet towel before rushing towards the affected flat.
Fire extinguisher could not stop blaze
Zhou pushed open the main door and found the elderly man and young boy standing in the living room.
He attempted to tackle the flames with the fire extinguisher, but quickly realised that the fire was too intense for him to control. He eventually had to retreat, with his main priority being to get the two occupants safely out of the flat.
The incident also left the elderly man injured. Several glass bottles reportedly fell and shattered during the fire, and he stepped on the broken glass while escaping. He was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.
Despite the frightening circumstances, the family was able to receive immediate help from their neighbours before emergency responders arrived.
Family stays with heroic neighbour
Sang Ting expressed his gratitude to the neighbours who came forward to help his family during the emergency.
Following the incident, his parents and young son temporarily stayed at Zhou’s home. The families had known each other for almost two decades, making the arrangement possible at a particularly difficult time.
Zhou’s actions have highlighted how quickly a dangerous situation can escalate during a residential fire, while also showing the difference that a neighbour’s quick response can make.
The incident remains under investigation by the authorities, including the circumstances surrounding the suspected electrical fault.
Image Source: Shin Min Daily News