Fire breaks out at Midpoint Orchard

A fire broke out at Midpoint Orchard shopping mall last night.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) traced it to a stack of dry towels that had been left in the sauna room of beauty salon Rupini's, which is on the third floor of the building.

The fire triggered the mall's sprinkler system, said the SCDF, adding that it was alerted to the incident at around 9pm.

Two fire engines, two Red Rhinos and three special vehicles were sent to the scene but its officers put out the blaze using a hose reel in the building.

There were no reports of anyone being injured. An SCDF spokesman said that 10 employees of the beauty salon were evacuated.

Eyewitnesses said the mall, which stands opposite Somerset MRT station, appeared to be cordoned off as thick smoke rose from it.

Earlier this month, two fires broke out in separate incidents in Orchard Road.

The first, at shopping mall Tang Plaza, caused the evacuation of 100 people. The second happened in a kitchen at Mandarin Orchard hotel, forcing nearly 350 hotel guests to be evacuated.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 29, 2016, with the headline Fire breaks out at Midpoint Orchard. Subscribe