On Sunday (4 Apr), a fire broke out at a residential unit in Kovan.
AÂ video of firefighters from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) attempting to put out the blaze was posted to reddit on the same day.
Electrical fire this morning. Kudos to our SCDF for the quick response from singapore
In the video, a second fire erupted while the firefighters were trying to put out the first, but it ended before we could determine the extent of the damage to the house and whether anyone was hurt.
Well, we now have more details of the incident.
Family of 4 Forced to Flee Home After Fire
According to The Straits Times, a family of four was forced to evacuate their home after the fire broke out.
The fire occurred at a private housing estate at 38 Charlton Lane. The SCDF were alerted to the fire at about 8:40am on Sunday (4 Apr).
SCDF firefighters eventually managed to extinguish the blaze using a water jet and a fire extinguisher.
The family of four fled the unit before SCDF officers arrived. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
What Happened
A video of the fire was shared on reddit by a witness who was at the site and recorded the incident.
At the beginning of the video, black smoke can be seen billowing out of the residential home as firefighters outside the unit prepare their hoses.
Several firefighters were already inside the home, presumably looking for the source of the blaze.
Then, at the 23-second mark, as the firefighters are about to use their hoses, another fire erupts within the unit and a loud “zapping” sound can be heard. Some sparks can also be seen.
Plumes of grey smoke then pour out of the unit as the sound of another approaching ambulance can be heard.
The firefighters then prepare to enter the flat, and the video ends there.
An Electrical Fire
Yesterday (5 Apr), Lianhe Wanbao reported that the fire was suspected to have started in an electric box located in front of the house.
From the video, it appeared that two separate fires had broke out, and this was confirmed by the witness who recorded the incident.
When asked why firefighters used water for an electrical fire, the witness explained that the firefighters used water for the first fire. Then, when the electrical explosion occurred, they switched to the dry powder fire extinguishers.
Couple Lived in Unit with Two ChildrenÂ
According to Lianhe Wanbao, the occupants of the flat were a couple in their 30s and their two children.
At least two of the family members were barefooted during the escape, one neighbour said. Neighbours also tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher, and offered the family footwear and a place to rest as well.
The authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Feature Image: reddit (u/weirdnawesome)
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