Fire breaks
out at Toa Payoh lift landing, woman taken to
hospital
SINGAPORE: A 48-year-old woman was taken to Tan Tock Seng
Hospital after a fire broke out at a lift landing in Toa Payoh on
Monday morning (Feb 12).
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the
incident on the eighth floor of Block 5 Toa Payoh Lorong 7 at about
8.30am.
The fire, which involved "discarded items", was put out with a
compressed air foam backpack, SCDF added.
Police said they are investigating this as a "case of mischief by
fire".
The woman, who Channel NewsAsia understands is a Toa Payoh
resident, was taken conscious to hospital after complaining of
breathlessness, authorities said. Another woman, who is in her 70s,
did not want to be taken to hospital, they added.
The fire affected the power supply of four corridor lights outside
the lift, said MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Saktiandi Supaat.
"Hopefully the town council can speed it up and make it work by the
end of today. As for the lift, they will try to make it work as
soon as possible," Mr Saktiandi added.
The lift was shut down by the lift operator when the fire happened,
he said. When Channel NewsAsia visited the block at about 3pm,
there were electricians installing new wire casings and rewiring
the lights.
One resident who witnessed the fire, 78-year-old Madam Tan Boon
Eng, said she heard a very loud explosion at about 8.30am.
"Even the next block they heard the explosion so I told my son to
go and check. He saw the smoke, very smoky. After he checked and
came back, he said: 'Mum faster go and change. It's very bad' and
we went downstairs," Mdm Tan said.
Another resident Madam Teo Gui Liew, 80, said she saw the smoke
from the fire from the corridor on the 10th floor. The block is
designed in a long rectangular shape and comprises mostly one-room
flats occupied by the elderly.
"The smoke was so black I couldn't see the end of the block from
the middle [portion of the block]. It's happened so many times.
Whenever I see discarded trash in the common areas of my floor, I
cannot sleep at night until the people from the town council come
to clear it. I'm afraid there will be fire overnight because it has
happened before," Mdm Teo said.
"Sometimes if it's light and I can move it, I'll take it
downstairs," she added.
NOT THE FIRST FIRE INCIDENT
Several residents Channel NewsAsia spoke to said that at least four
fire incidents have happened in the past, and mostly involved
discarded furniture or bulky refuse along common spaces like
corridors or lift landings.
It usually happens when the occupants of the one-room flats move
out of their apartment and have to clear it for the next
occupant.
"It's like that down here. The elderly just anyhow chuck their
furniture outside. A few days ago, I saw a few boxes of clothes in
the middle lift. Half of the lift was blocked by the boxes. I saw
it and I thought, 'my goodness, this one will cause havoc again',"
Mdm Tan said.
"A few hours later, I don't know who removed it from the lift," she
added.
Mr Saktiandi, who was at the block for a visit, said he is aware of
fire incidents that have happened in that area.
He said that residents must make sure that when they want to
dispose of bulky items or flammable refuse, they should be
put in the proper place for disposal, such as the designated
baskets. He also said that more could be done to make residents
aware of fire prevention.
Some residents asked if more cameras can be installed in the
block's common spaces.
"They should install some cameras here, at the lift. No cameras,
only downstairs have. Lift also no camera. These are old blocks,"
said Mr Hussein.
On this, Mr Saktiandi said that he will work with the police to see
if the cameras can be further enhanced at not just the affected
blocks but also other blocks.
Police investigations are ongoing.
Source: CNA/hs