SINGAPORE - A fire originating from a store room of a sports
shop in Far East Plaza on Saturday (Oct 24) night has left two
injured.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that it received a
call alerting them to the fire at around 7.44pm.
They arrived on the scene around eight minutes after and put out
the fire in 15 minutes. It dispatched two fire engines, three red
rhinos and five support vehicles.
According to the SCDF, a woman in her 20s, believed to be a
staff member of the shop, suffered burns on her palms.
A man in his 50s, believed to be a shopper, was sent to the
Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation and a sprained
ankle. They were trying to stop the fire before the SCDF
arrived.
Around 250 people were evacuated by security personnel from the
shopping mall.
The sports store, Sports Life, is on the second floor of the
building.
Ms Esther Tham, 30, said that she was waiting for her husband to
end work in a shop on the third floor of the mall when she smelt
something burning.
"I went out of the store to see what was going on. Smoke was
coming out from the second floor, and five minutes later, there was
a notice for emergency evacuation," said the masseuse.
The fire saw users posting their photos and videos on Facebook
and Twitter.
One user, Syxh, posted a video taken inside the mall around the
time of the fire. It showed people moving quickly down escalators
while the fire alarm rang.
Another video, posted by Iris L, showed people crowding outside
the mall.
When contacted by The Straits Times, SCDF said it was still
investigating the cause of the incident.
Management of Far East Plaza declined to comment when contacted
about the incident.
The shopping centre has been closed until declared safe.
-- STonline