A fire broke out in a HDB unit in Compassvale Walk at about 1am on Wednesday, forcing a family out of their home.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the fire started in a bedroom before spreading to the rest of the house. No one was hurt, and the fire was extinguished within 15 minutes.

Mr Teo Ser Luck, who is Mayor of North East District, said that grassroots volunteers went to the flat in the early morning to help.

"I am very encouraged that that they immediately went down to see what they could do to help. This is not the first fire in the area," he said, adding that it was the third in about six months.

He also said that the family is currently staying with relatives, but that they have also been offered a rental unit to stay in while they wait for their home to be refurbished.