Home Briefs: Fire at Orchard Towers; no one injured

Fire at Orchard Towers; no one injured

A fire which broke out at Orchard Towers yesterday sent its occupants scrambling for safety.

Fifteen people evacuated from the 18-storey building before the arrival of Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) firefighters at the scene.

SCDF said it dispatched its firefighters upon learning of the incident at 8.15am.

They put out the fire with one waterjet. No one was injured.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.


Upfront fares for UberX service

Ride-hailing app Uber introduced upfront fares for its UberX service here yesterday, which allows commuters to see the cost of a trip before they book a ride.

Fares will be calculated based on the expected time and distance of the trip, as well as other factors such as traffic and ERP charges.

Uber's surge pricing, where fares increase during periods of high demand, will also be factored into the upfront costs.

The introduction of upfront pricing brings UberX in line with its competitor GrabCar as well as Uber's ride-sharing service UberPool.


Snatch-thief suspect nabbed in Ang Mo Kio

Police have arrested a 24-year-old man believed to have been involved in a case of snatch theft in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 .

On Aug 24, a 21-year-old woman reported that a man approaching her from behind snatched her wallet in the void deck of Block 216, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 at 4am, police said in a statement.

The victim called the police when she lost sight of the suspect following a short chase.

Police said officers from Ang Mo Kio Division conducted extensive ground inquiries and established the identity of the suspect, who was arrested near Serangoon North Avenue 4 on Aug 30.

The suspect is expected to be in court tomorrow.


Ultramarathoners to raise funds for hospice

Thirty ultramarathoners from Trailblazers100 will take part in Craze Ultra 2016, which will see them attempting to run 1,791km around Singapore on Sept 3 and 4 to raise awareness and funds for HCA Hospice Care.

They will begin their run at MacRitchie Reservoir at 7am.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 01, 2016, with the headline Home Briefs: Fire at Orchard Towers; no one injured. Subscribe