Fire breaks out at bak kwa shop 2 days before Chinese New Year
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SINGAPORE – A fire broke out at a shop selling bak kwa, or barbecued meat, in Little India on the afternoon of Feb 15, days before Chinese New Year.
The owner of Century Bakkwa, Ms Simbian Chua, posted on social media shortly after noon that the shop was on fire, adding that “there is 500kg of charcoal” on the premises. She said firefighters were on-site.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire at 30 Dunlop Street at about 11.40am.
The fire involved the contents of kitchen exhaust ducting at a ground-floor unit, SCDF said, adding that the fire was extinguished with a water jet and a hose reel.
A person was assessed for breathing difficulties and another for minor injuries, SCDF said. Both declined to be taken to hospital.
The fire involved the contents of kitchen exhaust ducting at a ground-floor unit, SCDF said.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
An 11-second video that accompanied Ms Chua’s post shows a smoke-filled back alley where a row of shophouses are located.
When ST arrived at the scene at about 3.10pm, police officers were standing outside the shop conducting investigations. The area had also been cordoned off.
Ms Chua, who is in her 30s, told ST that she was alerted to the fire in the morning by one of her employees.
She said the fire started when a spark was caught in the exhaust ducting, which caused it to catch fire.
There were three employees in the shop when the fire broke out.
One of them suffered from smoke inhalation, and another suffered burns on his hand, said Ms Chua.
Firefighters putting out the fire at 30 Dunlop Street on Feb 15.
PHOTO: ST READER
Because of the fire, the shop is unable to fulfil about 400 orders from customers, which are worth about $100,000.
Ms Chua said she was willing to offer refunds to customers, but some still insisted on collecting their orders.
When asked how she felt about the incident, she said: “It’s okay, money can be earned again. But at least no one was seriously injured.”
The 1,000 sq ft flagship store was set up in 2021, according to a 2025 ST article
An employee, Mr Kang Teck Seng, said he was barbecuing the meat when the exhaust duct caught fire.
The 42-year-old said: “I saw smoke coming out from the exhaust duct, and I quickly turned off the switch. My hands were burnt when I tried to pull the wire mesh off the charcoal stove.”
He and two other colleagues escaped through the back of the shop, he said.
Mr Kang Teck Seng said he was barbecuing the meat when the exhaust duct caught fire.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
When ST entered the shop after the cordon was removed, the power supply had been cut off.
Piles of uncooked bak kwa were left on the table.
Staff were seen removing packs of packaged bak kwa from the shop. Ms Chua said the stock was going to be delivered to their outlet at Wisma Atria.
Century Bakkwa founder Simbian Chua with a tray of grilled bak kwa which was unaffected by the fire.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
SCDF reminded the public, especially stallholders, on the prevention of kitchen exhaust duct fires.
In an infographic, it said the stove, its surrounding area and the opening of exhaust ducts should be kept free from grease and oil stains. It added that people should clean the exhaust ducts, and have them maintained at least once a year.
SCDF reminded the public, especially stallholders, on the prevention of kitchen exhaust duct fires.
PHOTO: SCDF
