Monday December 18, 8:17
PM
SCDF explains
reason for not evacuating people during fire at
Tangs
SINGAPORE : Festive shopping went on as usual on Sunday evening
even as flames licked the tiled roof of the Tangs department store
along Orchard Road.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is investigating the cause
of the fire and says it was unnecessary for a mass evacuation of
the entire shopping complex as the blaze was confined within a
small area of the external facade.
The fire was also brought under control quickly within eight
minutes.
But it adds that personnel in charge of fire safety and security in
large shopping malls should evacuate the crowd during
life-threatening situations.
These include instances when the fire is spreading or when the
premises is heavily smoke-clogged.
This is the second fire at Orchard Road this month.
The first occurred on December 7 when the tip of a Christmas tree
caught fire due to an electrical fault in the decorative
lightings.
SCDF says it will step up inspection checks at public premises to
detect fire safety violations.
Property and business owners are also reminded to comply with fire
safety requirements. - CNA/ms
