Forum: Community preparedness is key to fire safety

We thank Forum writer Ho See Ling for the letter “

Fire safety isn’t just about infrastructure, but community preparedness

” (Dec 4).

All buildings in Singapore are built in accordance with the Fire Code. Residential flats are designed with fire-rated walls and floors, forming compartments that can contain a fire within the affected unit and prevent fire spread. During a residential-unit fire, firefighters and police officers will prioritise the evacuation of residents on the affected floor and the two floors immediately above. Should more units need to be evacuated, the officers at the scene will facilitate this.

Knowing what to do before the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrives can save lives. If the fire occurs within a unit, occupants of that unit should alert others and immediately evacuate. If evacuation is not possible, they should quickly enter an unaffected room, close the door, and cover the gap beneath it with a cloth to reduce smoke entry. Call 995 and shout for help at a window.

Residents should avoid using the lifts, and use the staircases instead, when evacuating to the ground floor or refuge floor (provided at every 20 storeys for super high-rise residential buildings that are over 40 storeys high).

We also urge residents to look out for one another during a fire. If safe to do so, help those who may require assistance, including young children, the elderly or less mobile residents. If additional help is needed, guide them to the nearest staircase landing away from the fire, and inform any emergency responders at the scene.

We recommend that each household be equipped with a fire extinguisher. SCDF has also been progressively installing fire extinguishers at the lift lobbies of one in every two HDB blocks since October 2023. To date, more than 5,000 lift lobbies have been installed with fire extinguishers, which are placed alongside automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

We agree with the writer that community preparedness is key in enhancing fire safety. This is why SCDF and the People’s Association conduct regular outreach through Community Resilience Days and block evacuation exercises, where residents learn life-saving skills and evacuation procedures. Residents are also encouraged to join the Responders Plus Programme at go.gov.sg/rpp, which offers free hands-on training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use of AEDs and fire extinguishers.

Abdul Razak Abdul Raheem (Senior Assistant Commissioner)

Director (Volunteer and Community Partnership Department)

Singapore Civil Defence Force