River Valley fire: Teachers used extinguishers to delay flames from spreading, says cooking school

SINGAPORE - Teachers at the River Valley shophouse that

caught fire on April 8

used fire extinguishers to try and delay the spread of the flames, said the cooking school located there.

In a Facebook post on April 12, Tomato Cooking School lauded 17 teachers from the school and camp organiser Newtonshow, who “risked their own safety to ensure kids were safely evacuated”. Both have listed their addresses at 278 River Valley Road, the shophouse involved in the deadly fire.

The blaze killed Australian Freya Ji Yinan, 10, while 21 others – six adults and 15 children – were injured.

In images circulating online, several adults and children are seen sitting on the ledge outside the third storey of the shophouse, as black smoke spews out of four open windows.

Using ladders and metal scaffolding, migrant workers and passers-by helped shepherd some of the adults and children down before the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived.

One of the rescuers, construction worker Shakil Mohammad, previously told The Straits Times that

he reckoned he helped to save 10 children

, but could not reach three still stuck inside because the fire was too big.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one child and injuries suffered by others,” said the cooking school in the post, which also acknowledged the efforts of the migrant workers.

“Nothing can take away the pain, but we are so grateful that the efforts of these individuals averted greater loss.”

On April 9, SCDF said that

fire safety breaches, including unauthorised partitions, were found

in the shophouse.

The fire likely started from an area used for storage on the second floor of the three-storey shophouse, added SCDF.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) also said on April 9 that the second and third floors of the shophouse are approved for residential use, while only the first floor is approved for use as a children’s enrichment centre.

ST previously contacted Tomato Cooking School for its comments on SCDF and URA’s statement, but was directed on April 12 to its Facebook post. The school said it will provide more details in due time.

ST has contacted the school for more information on the teachers and children, including on their conditions.