A person has died and two firefighters sustained burn injuries after a fire broke out in an HDB flat in Clementi on July 31, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The incident occurred at Block 309 Clementi Avenue 4, specifically in an eighth-floor unit. Firefighters were called to the scene at approximately 11.10pm on July 31 and encountered difficulties due to a malfunctioning dry rising main, which is a critical component used to supply water to upper floors during emergencies. Firefighters initially attempted to use the dry rising main to deliver water to the affected floor but discovered it was not functioning properly. As a result, they had to deploy a contingency plan, setting up hoses directly from the fire engine at ground level and transporting them up the stairs to reach the eighth floor. This method, though effective, required considerable effort and time. During the operation, a person was found trapped in the kitchen and was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in an unconscious state. Unfortunately, the individual later succumbed to their injuries. Two firefighters sustained burns during the operation and were subsequently taken to Singapore General Hospital. One of the injured firefighters was discharged from the hospital on August 1 and is currently resting at home. The SCDF confirmed that the fire was eventually extinguished using two water jets. The blaze involved items located in the living room of the flat. As a precautionary measure, approximately 40 residents from the affected block were evacuated by the police and SCDF. Most of these residents were able to return to their homes by 1.30am on August 1. Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Sim Ann, who is also the Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs, expressed gratitude towards the SCDF, police, residents’ network volunteers, People’s Association, and town council staff for their assistance during the incident. She noted that the deceased person was believed to have been living alone. The town council responsible for the area stated that the dry rising main at Block 309 Clementi Avenue 4 had undergone its most recent servicing and annual pressure test on March 14 and was found to be in working order. However, during the fire, a coupling securing a segment of the dry rising main became dislodged, leading to a reduction in water pressure. The town council has since rectified the issue and confirmed that SCDF tested the system on August 2. Additional tests will be conducted to ensure the system is fully functional. The town council also announced plans to conduct further checks on other blocks under its management as a precautionary measure. It emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability, stating it will work closely with SCDF to improve the maintenance and testing regime for dry rising main and hose reel systems. The council extended its condolences to the deceased person’s family and wished the injured firefighters a speedy recovery. The SCDF has launched an investigation into the incident. In addition to the current case, the agency reported that the number of people injured in fires increased from 80 in 2024 to 94 in 2025. There were seven fire-related fatalities in 2024 and six in 2025. The total number of fires rose by 3 percent, from 1,990 in 2024 to 2,050 in 2025.
★
Neka vijesti ostanu poštene.
ObjectiveNews financiraju čitatelji i bez oglasa je – pristranost vam pokazujemo, ne skrivamo. Podržite neovisno novinarstvo za 4 €/mjesec.
Postani podupiratelj
SG
