Fire incidents hit a 20-year low last year, with a total of 4,136 cases, down from 4,485 cases in 2012, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in its annual statistics release.

There was however an increase in fires at warehouses and at private residential premises. The number of warehouse fires tripled, from seven fires in 2012 to 21 fires in 2013. For private residential premises such as condominiums and bungalows, the number of fires increased by about a fifth, from 133 to 159.

More than half, or 54.4 per cent, of all the fires last year were caused by "dropped light", which refers to the indiscriminate disposal of lighted materials such as cigarette butts and incense sticks.

The SCDF issued 38 fewer Fire Hazard Abatement Notices and 231 fewer Notices of Fire Safety Offences last year, and described the drop as "encouraging" as it signifies a "greater level of compliance" with fire safety requirements.