Cat & 30 Residents Evacuated After Woodlands Flat Fire; It’s the 3rd HDB Fire This Month

Last Updated on 2023-05-16 , 12:26 pm

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) reported on their Facebook page that they were alerted to a fire at a Housing Development Board (HDB) flat in Woodlands on 8 May 2023 around 2:50 pm. 

The contents of a bedroom on the fourth floor were involved in the fire, but it was eventually extinguished by firefighters from Woodlands Fire Station using a water jet. 

Three occupants from the affected unit were evacuated before the arrival of the SCDF, and a cat found in the living room was also rescued upon their arrival. 

As a precautionary measure, police evacuated 30 residents from the affected block. 

An SCDF paramedic later reported that one person was sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital due to breathlessness, and the cause of the fire is now under investigation.

Rising Cases of HDB Fires

Recent reports show that there have been increasing cases of fires occurring in HDB flats.

On 8 May 2023, the same day as the Woodlands fire, a unit in a Tampines HDB block caught fire in the morning, and about 60 residents were evacuated. 

The SCDF was alerted to the fire at 8:10 am and dispatched firefighters to the scene, where they used a water jet and compressed air foam backpacks to extinguish the blaze. 

Damage was limited to the contents of the flat’s bedroom, and one resident from the affected block was sent to the Singapore General Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

In another incident, a fire broke out in a Pasir Ris flat on 7 May 2023, one day before the Woodlands and Tampines fires. 

The SCDF responded to the fire in a unit on the second storey of the HDB block at 9:15 pm. 

About 35 residents were evacuated, and one person was taken to the hospital. 

The massive fire, spotted in the unit’s kitchen, was extinguished by the SCDF using a compressed air foam backpack and a water jet.

Common Causes of Fires in Apartments

Living in a multi-unit residential building like an HDB or condominium can present many fire safety concerns, and it’s essential to understand the risks and create a fire preparedness plan. 

Understanding the risks and taking steps to prevent fires can help residents of multi-unit residential buildings feel more secure and prepared in the event of a fire.

Moreover, most apartment fires are caused by easily avoidable human error.

As observed from the fire in the Pasir Ris flat, overheating food due to unattended cooking is one of the most common causes of residential fires in Singapore, accounting for 37% of cases in 2022. 

As such, residents should always watch the stovetop when preparing food in the kitchen, turn off burners and appliances as soon as the food is prepared, and keep clothing and other combustible materials away from flames.

Cases of electrical fires are also rising, with electrical faults in wiring or appliances and overloading of electrical sockets being the main culprits. 

This was also the case for the Woodlands fire, where preliminary investigations by the SCDF showed that the fire was of electrical origin, involving a portable air-conditioning unit inside the affected bedroom.

To prevent electric malfunctions, it’s important to check electrical cords regularly and use appliances as directed.

Furniture and appliances can also contribute to the bulk of the damage in a fire and can even release toxic fumes once ignited.

As such, keeping heat sources, candles, and active smokers far from upholstered chairs and sofas is essential.

Some Guidelines From SCDF

To address the increasing number of fires in HDB flats, the SCDF has issued guidelines for individuals to improve their preparedness in a fire emergency.

To prevent obstructions to firefighting equipment and evacuation pathways during a fire, individuals are prohibited from storing combustible items near common corridors, dry risers, and hose reels. 

However, shoe racks are allowed, provided a minimum clear escape passage of 1.2 metres is maintained from the parapet wall where the shoe rack is placed. 

Fire safety provisions must also be regularly serviced to ensure operational readiness.

Storing or displaying objects at staircases or immediate landings is not allowed by the SCDF. 

Apart from fire prevention efforts by the SCDF, residents can watch out for fire hazards in hallways and common areas and inform the management if they spot anything hazardous, such as beeping smoke detectors or outdated or missing fire extinguishers.

The SCDF also requires all public buildings and industrial premises to have a Fire Emergency Plan (FEP) in place.

The FEP includes detailed floor layout plans to help people evacuate their premises during a fire emergency smoothly.

By adhering to these guidelines, individuals can protect their lives and contribute to creating a safer living environment for others.