Brave ICA officer douses flames of burning car at Woodlands Checkpoint

A video of the incident was shared widely online and showed huge orange flames coming from a white Kia near the immigration clearance counters. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/SG TRAFFIC INCIDENTS

SINGAPORE - A checkpoint officer was filmed putting out the flames of a burning car at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Thursday night (June 21).

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that it was alerted to the vehicle fire at around 11.30pm.

The fire was extinguished by an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officer prior to the SCDF's arrival, it added.

There were no reported injuries and the cause of fire is under investigation.

Staff sergeant (SSgt) Muhammad Miftahul Khair Ahmad, 34, told The Straits Times on Friday that he was carrying out traffic management duties, when he saw smoke coming from the white Kia.

However, the car driver and passenger did not seem to notice anything amiss, said SSgt Miftahul, who has been with ICA for nine years.

"Soon, a small fire broke out. I quickly alerted the driver and the passenger to get out of the car and stay a safe distance away," he added.

"My instant reaction was to get the fire extinguisher and put out the fire before it spreads."

A video of the incident was shared widely online and shows huge orange flames coming from the car near the immigration clearance counters.

A few seconds later, SSgt Miftahul is shown walking towards the car before pointing a fire extinguisher at it and putting out the fire.

The area was shrouded in thick grey smoke after the fire was put out.

He told ST: "I was glad that I had stopped the fire in time to prevent injuries to checkpoint users."

A witness told citizen journalism website Stomp that he realised the car was on fire after he heard vehicles honking loudly. The witness, who gave his name only as Anthony, said that he was entering Johor Baru with his cousin.

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