Over 100 people evacuated after fire at Junction 8 restaurant; 1 taken to hospital
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The Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted to a fire at 9 Bishan Place, the address of Junction 8, at about 7.10pm on Aug 11.
PHOTO: ST READER
- Over 100 people were evacuated from Junction 8 mall after a fire broke out at Yakiniku Like, a Japanese barbecue restaurant, involving a table grill and exhaust duct.
- One employee from a neighbouring shop was hospitalised owing to smoke exposure; no other injuries were reported, and the mall remains open.
- The restaurant outlet is temporarily closed for safety inspections, with Yakiniku Like reviewing protocols and conducting checks at other outlets as a precaution.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – More than 100 people were evacuated from Junction 8 in Bishan after a fire broke out at a Japanese barbecue restaurant in the mall on Aug 11.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that it was alerted to the fire at 9 Bishan Place – the address of Junction 8 – at about 7.10pm that day.
The fire, which involved a table grill and exhaust ducting in the dining area of the restaurant on the first floor, was extinguished by firefighters using a hose reel, said SCDF.
Barbecue restaurant chain Yakiniku Like confirmed on Aug 12 that the fire occurred at its outlet in Junction 8, adding that it was cooperating with the authorities and mall management amid ongoing investigations.
About 120 people were evacuated from the affected building on Aug 11 by the police and SCDF as a precaution. Patrons at neighbouring eateries were also asked to leave.
In reply to queries from The Straits Times on Aug 12, a Junction 8 spokesperson said an employee from a neighbouring tenant was taken to hospital for medical assessment after experiencing discomfort from smoke exposure. No other injuries were reported.
SCDF said the person was taken to Singapore General Hospital.
A spokesperson for Yakiniku Like said the restaurant was informed on the morning of Aug 12 that a person was taken to hospital.
“We are currently seeking further information so that we can offer appropriate assistance where needed.”
The spokesperson added that the Junction 8 outlet will be closed temporarily while safety inspections and assessments are carried out. The restaurant chain is also conducting additional checks across its other outlets as an added precaution.
“We have stringent safety protocols in place and are conducting a comprehensive review of the incident and our existing procedures. We will take any necessary measures arising from the review to further strengthen our safety practices,” said the spokesperson.
“We apologise for the concern and inconvenience caused by the incident and thank our customers and the public for their understanding.”
Japanese BBQ restaurant Yakiniku Like confirmed on Aug 12 that the fire occurred at its outlet in Junction 8.
PHOTO: ST READER
The rest of the Junction 8 mall remains open and is operating as usual.
When ST arrived at the scene at 7.45pm on Aug 11, customers and staff from nearby shops up to 40m away had been evacuated.
Fire-resistant curtains on the second floor were deployed to prevent smoke from seeping into other levels, as the restaurant sits directly below two escalators.
The spokesperson for Junction 8 said the building’s safety measures were activated immediately, including the automated sprinkler system and fire curtain, when it received an alert about the fire at Yakiniku Like.
A man who carried his tray out of the eatery, with smoke spewing behind him, said: “I only ate three pieces. We saw the fire in the vent and just ran quickly.”
He had been seated behind the table where a grill had caught fire.
Restaurant staff, who had also been asked by mall officials to leave the premises, assured him that his half-eaten meal would be on the house.
An eatery employee, who declined to be identified, said this was the first time a fire like this had happened.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Additional reporting by Ann Neo