Fire safety advisory messages now adorn the lifts in Tampines West, part of an islandwide campaign to douse the number of residential fires here.

The sticker was unveiled in Tampines West today by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, in conjunction with Tampines West's Emergency Preparedness day.

The lift door stickers are a key initiative by the Singapore Civil Defence Force and its community partners to generate public awareness on the dangers of discarding items at common areas such as corridors, lift lobbies, staircases and void decks.

"Leaving discarded items in common areas, especially combustible items such as furniture and newspapers, can easily fuel fires when lighted materials such as cigarette butts are indiscriminately thrown onto them," said the SCDF in a statement. "Cluttered common areas can seriously hamper fire-fighting efforts, fire evacuation and conveyance of patients during a medical emergency."

Fires involving discarded items at common areas in HDB estates account for almost a quarter of the total number of residential fires in 2012. A total of 18 persons were injured in the 707 fires involving discarded items in 2012.

Residents are reminded to follow the following advisories to prevent fires involving discarded items in residential premises.

• Do not leave discarded items at common areas such as corridors, lift lobbies, void decks and staircases
• Arrange with Town Councils for the removal of bulky items such as cupboards and sofas
• For the placement of items such as shoe racks, residents should adopt the guidelines on the use of common areas in HDB estates
• Anyone who observes items being discarded at common areas should report them to the Town Council