Four taken to hospital, 30 evacuated after early morning fire in Ang Mo Kio flat
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Firefighters used a water jet to extinguish the fire, which was in the bedroom of a unit on the 11th floor of Block 612 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4.
PHOTOS: SINGAPORE CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE/FACEBOOK
SINGAPORE – Four people were taken to hospital and 30 others evacuated from their homes after a fire broke out in an Ang Mo Kio Housing Board unit on Aug 1.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to the fire at Block 612 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 at around 2am.
Firefighters used a water jet to extinguish the fire, which was in the bedroom of the unit on the 11th floor. The rest of the unit suffered heat and soot damage.
Five people had left the affected unit before the SCDF arrived. Two of them were taken to Singapore General Hospital, and two were taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital for smoke inhalation, said the agency. The remaining person declined to be taken to hospital.
As a precautionary measure, around 30 other residents living in the same block were evacuated by the police and SCDF.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the cause of the fire is of electrical origin, likely from an electrical socket in the bedroom,” said the SCDF, adding that the investigation is still ongoing.
Later in the day, Yio Chu Kang MP Yip Hon Weng said in a Facebook post that he visited the site to ensure that affected families, neighbours and residents were being looked after. He added that three residents who were taken to hospital were expected to be discharged later in the day, and would be staying with nearby relatives temporarily.
The Ang Mo Kio Town Council and HDB are working to restore essential services, such as the electricity and lifts, said Mr Yip. The walls of the block are also currently being repainted.
To prevent electrical fires from breaking out, members of the public are urged to follow these tips:
Do not overload electrical sockets with electrical appliances.
Switch off electrical appliances when not in use.
Check for frayed wires or cracked cords. If these are present, the electrical appliance should be repaired or replaced. Do not use faulty appliances.
Do not run wires under carpets or mats, and keep wires away from hot surfaces.
Use appliances and electrical plugs that bear the Safety Mark.
