SINGAPORE - Ninety residents were evacuated from a Marine Parade condominium estate on Monday (Jan 11) morning after a fire broke out in an apartment unit.

The blaze occurred in an eighth floor unit of Parkway View at 39 Marine Parade Road.

When The Straits Times visited the scene at around 7.15am, 20 people had gathered outside the condominium waiting for the flames to subside.

Some of them had their pets in tow while others had young children with them.

At about 6.05am, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the fire, which "involved the contents of a laundry area" in the unit.

Firefighters extinguished the fire after forcing their way into the unit and using a water jet and hosereel.

Retiree Peter Yeo was in the building when he heard an "explosion" at about 6am, followed by the fire alarm shortly.

"I looked out the corridor and saw black smoke coming out. The smell was horrible," the 76-year-old told The Straits Times.

Mr Yeo, who lives on the 12th floor, wakes up early every morning to drive his two grandchildren, aged 12 and 18, to school.

"The children were not scared. Everybody was excited. It was something unusual," he said.
SCDF assessed one person for smoke inhalation injuries but the person refused to be taken to hospital.

Preliminary investigations into the cause of the fire indicate that it was from a lit candle in the area.