About 40 evacuated after fire breaks out in fengshui master’s Ang Mo Kio flat

SINGAPORE – About 40 people were evacuated after a fire broke out in an elderly fengshui master’s flat in Ang Mo Kio on Friday night.

The man, who is in his 80s, hid in his kitchen and waited for help with a wet bath towel wrapped around his head because the fire, which was in the living room, blocked his path to the exit, reported Shin Min Daily News.

In response to The Straits Times’ queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire at Block 305 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 at about 10.30pm.

Firefighters evacuated the man from his unit and extinguished the blaze with a water jet, said SCDF. About 40 other people in neighbouring units were also evacuated as a precaution, it added.

The fengshui master, whom Shin Min identified as Mr Shen, said he was sleeping in his bedroom when the acrid smell of smoke woke him up.

“I walked out to the living room and there was smoke everywhere. The living room was in flames.

“After a while, I heard movement at the door and knew that I was being saved. I ran for my life,” he said.

The blaze left the walls of his flat blackened and more than 100 of his religious idols charred.

His collection had been displayed on floor-to-ceiling shelves in his living room, filling an entire wall. “I have been in the fengshui business for more than 60 years and these idols are from Thailand,” Mr Shen told Shin Min.

Two people were assessed for smoke inhalation but declined to be sent to the hospital, said SCDF.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.