Firefighters forced entry into the affected unit, but encountered challenges entering due to an excessive number of items inside. - ST
SINGAPORE: Three people were pronounced dead at the scene of a fire at a Housing Board block in Hougang on Thursday (Jan 9), during which about 30 residents on the first seven floors were evacuated.
Two victims were found inside a bedroom during the firefighting operation in a unit on the third floor of Block 971 Hougang Street 91, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on Facebook.
In an update later in the evening, it said a third body was discovered in a bedroom.
Firefighters forced entry into the affected unit, but encountered challenges entering due to an excessive number of items inside, SCDF added.
It was alerted to the fire at about 12.40pm, and with the help of the police, evacuated occupants from levels one to seven of the 15-storey block as a precautionary measure.
SCDF said the fire was put out at about 3.15pm. A cat, a bird and eight rabbits were rescued from the unit.
A resident of a nearby block, who declined to be named, reported hearing two loud bangs past noon and saw smoke from her window.
Clarence Lee, a 24-year-old hawker who lives in an opposite block, told ST that he noticed a burning smell at about 1pm, and white smoke began to block his view from the window.
One resident, who lives on the second floor of the affected block and wanted to be known only as Said, said the occupant of the affected unit is a man in his 60s who is often seen walking his dog around the estate.
When the 50-year-old housewife realised a fire had broken out, she grabbed her mother and left her flat.
“We’ve been out for about five hours but the police have not allowed us to return to our homes yet,” said Said.
In a Facebook post at 5.17pm, Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Ng Ling Ling said the authorities are still working to identify the people who died in the fire.
She added that those who require assistance can approach grassroots volunteers at the residents’ network centre at Block 976. The centre is open till 10pm.
Ang Mo Kio Town Council said it has assisted the residents in cleaning up the debris and soot on the walls caused by the fire.
It added that in the case of the fire-racked unit, it did not receive any reports of obstruction in the common areas.
As “internal hoarding” issues come under the purview of the HDB, said the town council, it “will be working closely with the HDB to assist residents in removing items from their units when needed”.
Police investigations are ongoing. - The Straits Times/ANN
