40 people evacuated in Jurong East HDB blaze; police probing mischief by fire

About 40 people were evacuated after a fire broke out in a bedroom of a 10th floor unit. PHOTOS: STOMP

SINGAPORE - Police are investigating a case of mischief by fire, after someone set fire to a flat in Jurong East on Friday (June 23) afternoon, with about 40 people being evacuated from the Housing Board block.

A 75-year-old woman was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital hospital with a minor injury, the police told The Straits Times.

The fire was set at Block 257 Jurong East Street 24, and the Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted at around 1.33pm.

It immediately dispatched two fire engines, a Red Rhino, two fire bikes, two ambulances and a support vehicle to the location, SCDF told The Straits Times.

When it arrived, thick black smoke was seen billowing from a 10th floor unit.

SCDF firefighters put on breathing apparatus sets and broke into the unit, which was empty and where visibility was poor.

SCDF officers extinguished the fire in a bedroom with a water jet and two compressed air foam backpacks.

Around 40 people were evacuated by the police and SCDF.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, and ST understands no arrests have been made yet.

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