Whampoa Heights blaze: 51-year-old man arrested for mischief by fire
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SINGAPORE – A 51-year-old man has been arrested over a fire that broke out at Whampoa Heights on May 29.
In photos of the incident, flames can be seen on the second and third floors of Block 20 Jalan Tenteram, with thick black plumes of smoke billowing into the air.
Firefighters from the Central Fire Station responded to the fire at about 11.40am, and put it out using two water jets, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
The fire involved items placed in the common corridors outside two flats – one on the second floor and one on the third floor, SCDF noted. The blaze charred the insides of these two units, and caused heat and soot damage to some neighbouring flats.
Five people aged between 12 and 74, including the suspect, were taken conscious to hospital for smoke inhalation, according to SCDF and the police. About 40 people were evacuated as a precaution.
Police said the suspect was subsequently arrested for the offence of mischief by fire.
Investigations are ongoing.
The SCDF advised members of the public to help maintain a safe living environment by keeping common corridors, lift lobbies and staircases free of clutter.
A cluttered corridor can increase the risk of fire spread, hinder evacuation efforts and delay SCDF’s response during an emergency.
In 2021, a fire broke out in another residential block in Jalan Tenteram,
According to 2024 statistics released by SCDF, 968 residential fire calls were made in 2024, and 970 in 2023. The top two types of fires were those caused by unattended cooking and those of electrical origin.
