A fire erupted at a three-storey shophouse along River Valley Road on 8 Apr 2025, resulting in 19 people being hospitalized, including 15 children.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the blaze at 278 River Valley Road at approximately 9:45 AM.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the fire raging on the second and third floors of the building.
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Quick-thinking construction workers assist in dramatic rescue of children trapped on ledge
Social media videos captured children sitting on a third-storey ledge as thick black smoke billowed from the windows.
Several members of the public, including construction workers wearing high-visibility vests, climbed metal scaffolding and used a ladder to reach those stranded on the ledge.
These brave individuals managed to bring multiple people to safety before emergency services arrived.
The affected shophouse is home to Tomato Cooking School, which runs cooking lessons and camps for children. The cooking school occupies space on the upper floors of the shophouse where the fire was most intense.
In one video posted on Facebook around 10:00 AM, more than 10 people, mostly children, could be seen sitting precariously on the narrow ledge below the windows as smoke poured out from the building.
The footage shows some children being carefully carried down to safety by men on the scaffolding.
SCDF personnel immediately deployed rescue ladders and a combined platform ladder to evacuate the remaining people trapped on the ledge.
Simultaneously, firefighters proceeded to the second and third floors to combat the blaze.
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The fire was successfully extinguished within 30 minutes using three water jets. Damping down operations were subsequently conducted on the second floor to prevent any potential rekindling of the fire.
SCDF evacuates 80 people from affected building and praises public for rescue efforts
Approximately 80 people from the shophouse and nearby premises were evacuated by police and SCDF personnel during the emergency.
All 19 casualties—four adults and 15 children—were transported to the hospital for treatment.
Photos shared by SCDF on their Facebook page show the aftermath of the fire, with firefighters conducting operations on the second floor of the damaged building.
“We would like to thank the members of the public who assisted in the rescue of the stranded persons for their quick actions and bravery,” SCDF said in a Facebook post, acknowledging the critical role played by civilians in the initial rescue efforts.
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The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The extent of the damage to the shophouse structure has not yet been fully assessed.
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