Singapore — Following two fires at Housing and Development Board (HDB) units over the weekend, one of which allegedly claimed a life, public members wondered if it was time to install fire alarms or a warning system at HDB lift lobbies.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted to a fire at a flat in Block 941 Tampines Avenue 5 on Friday night (Jan 28), resulting in the evacuation of about 180 people from neighbouring units.
In a separate incident, a fire consumed the contents of a flat at Block 39 Telok Blangah Rise on Saturday (Jan 29), allegedly claiming the life of a domestic helper in the unit above.
Kenny Ho, a former resident of the same block and a friend of the deceased, told Mothership of what happened.
The 48-year-old Indonesian domestic helper, Emma, was on the 11th floor flat, directly above the affected unit.
Reports noted that Ms Emma’s employer, Mimy Chen, Ms Chen’s son and an adult tenant are overseas.
“Upon SCDF’s arrival, the fire was raging and had totally engulfed a unit on the 10th floor,” noted SCDF on Facebook.
SCDF said that firefighters conducted forcible entry into the unit directly above the fire and found a woman lying unconscious on the floor.
Firefighters rescued the woman and brought her to the lift lobby, where an ambulance crew conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the victim.
She was later conveyed to Singapore General Hospital.
About 280 people were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Mr Ho also commented on SCDF’s post, noting that a campaign was started to help raise funds for Ms Emma’s surviving daughter and elderly parents.
Responding to the incidents, members of the online community highlighted concerns such as fire alert measures at HDB shared spaces.
“I think it’s time HDB install fire alarm at the lift lobby or maybe something that sound like the SCDF public warning system at every block so that everyone nearby can be alerted,” said a concerned individual whose comment received over 60 likes.
Another netizen asked, “What is being done to protect innocent neighbours from idiots who excessively hoard, use public spaces as storage and have illegal PMD chargers? Aren’t Singaporeans in general worried?”
Man arrested for mischief by fire
The Singapore Police Force said in a news release on Jan 29 that a 73-year-old man was arrested in relation to the case of mischief by fire at Telok Blangah HDB.
The man is reportedly a resident of the 10th storey unit and was charged on Jan 29.
Police investigations are ongoing. /TISG
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Bedok coffeeshop and Tampines flat go up in flames, SCDF rescues man from burning unit
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