A FIRE that started along a corridor of an HDB block yesterday morning has left one family without a front door.

Bank teller Roswati Osman, 39, and her family of five were awoken before dawn by a commotion outside their four-room flat. When she opened the door, flames had already blocked their only way out.

The family took refuge in the kitchen and called the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Firefighters arrived a few minutes later and broke down the door.

Ms Roswati's husband, Mr Azemi Saim, 38, two children and 75-year-old aunt were taken to the National University Hospital, but they had since been discharged.

Ms Roswati said she could not find anyone to fix her door because it is the Chinese New Year weekend and many shops are closed.

'I cannot even go to my sister's house to stay there because I'm worried that the things in my house will be stolen, but at the same time, how do we stay here?' she said.

The fire also destroyed the family's fish tank, shoe rack, coffee table and sofa that were in the corridor.

The SCDF received a call at 5.54am about a fire on the third floor of Block 716 Jurong West Street 71. A spokesman said it took five minutes to put the fire out.

Three other residents were also taken to the hospital for breathing difficulties, and some 100 people were evacuated.

Electricity was disrupted for the most part of yesterday, causing some inconvenience to residents like Ms Catherine Cheng, 48.

'I have bought all this food for my family's Chinese New Year reunion dinner, and I cannot put it in the fridge. So, it is all rotting,' she said.