Fires involving discarded items are on the rise.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force, SCDF, says there was an 11
per cent increase in the number of such fires in the first six
months of the year.
These discarded items placed at common spaces such as corridors,
lift lobbies, staircases and void decks caused 240 fires between
January and June this year.
SCDF says such fires have the potential to be more serious in
nature.
Also, such fires can hinder the smooth evacuation of
occupants.
It says such fires can be easily prevented.
Residents should make it a point not to leave unwanted household
items outside their homes or at common areas such as corridors and
lift lobbies.
These items, especially bulky furniture and newspapers, can
easily start fires when lighted materials such as incense sticks
and cigarette butts are indiscriminately thrown onto them.
SCDF advises residents to make arrangements with the Town
Councils to remove any bulky items.
Altogether, the SCDF says it responded to some 2,800 fires
between January and June.
This was a 10 per cent increase compared to the same period last
year.
The increase, it says, is partly attributed to a rise in
vegetation fires for the first six months of the year.
--938Live