50 residents evacuated after fire breaks out at Toa Payoh flat

SINGAPORE: About 50 residents were evacuated from a Housing Board block in Toa Payoh on Friday (Aug 12) evening following a blaze in one of the units.

Two casualties are currently being assessed by Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Emergency Medical Services.

In a Facebook post at about 8.50pm, SCDF said that it was alerted to the fire at Block 222 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh and that firefighting operations were ongoing. 

In a subsequent post at about 9.50pm, SCDF said the fire was extinguished with one water jet and that damping down operations were ongoing. 

"Upon SCDF’s arrival, the fire was raging and thick black smoke was emitting from a unit on the 3rd floor. SCDF firefighters conducted forcible entry into the affected unit."

The 50 residents were evacuated as a "precautionary measure", said SCDF.

Singapore Police Force (SPF) officers were at the scene and assisted with the evacuation.

Footage of the incident showed dozens of people standing outside the block, some of them recording with their mobile phones. Shattering glass could be heard as the blaze raged from the unit's window. 

A CNA reader, who declined to be named, said the fire started at about 8.10pm.

"I was in my room. I (smelled) smoke before being (alerted) that there was a fire happening," she said.

"I thought it was just for the (Hungry Ghost Festival) prayers, but I (noticed) the smoke was really distinct and coming into my room through the window."

The reader quickly left her flat and went downstairs.

"I saw others coming out (of) their houses and the neighbour downstairs said it was the third floor. So I went back to inform my neighbour," she said.

"I just felt like something isn't right and quickly evacuated from my room."

When asked if she noticed anything prior to the fire, the resident said that she just found the odour of the smoke to be "a little unusual" similar to the smell of an electrical fire. 

The reader reported that there was "a small explosion" as the fire escalated at around 8.25pm. By then, SCDF firefighters were already on the scene alongside police officers who cordoned off the area.

Most of the block's residents had left their flats by this time, she added.

In a comment on SCDF's first post, Facebook user Audrey Anne Felix said that her mother and godchild had left their flat on the 19th floor of the block.

They had earlier attempted to prevent smoke from entering the unit by placing wet towels under their doorway, she said, thanking SCDF for their "quick action in putting out the fire".