Redhill flat fire: 3 children taken to hospital

SINGAPORE — Three children were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a Redhill flat on Monday morning (Aug 14).

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to the fire in a unit at Block 71 Redhill Road at about 7.20am.

Upon arrival, residents alerted firefighters that there were occupants trapped inside the smoke-logged unit on the seventh floor.

Firefighters from Alexandra Fire Station and Marina Bay Fire Station forced their way into the unit by breaking the padlock of the metal gate.

The fire, which was located at the corner of the living room, was extinguished by SCDF officers with several buckets of water.

"While the fire was being extinguished, another team of firefighters that were searching the premises found three children inside the toilet at the back of the kitchen. The children were carried out from the unit by the firefighters and assessed by an ambulance crew," said SCDF.

The children were taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital for smoke inhalation.

Two persons from the unit managed to escape through a bedroom window before the SCDF arrived.

"They were assessed for smoke inhalation but declined to be taken to the hospital. In the midst of SCDF's operation, five cats were also brought out of the affected unit," said the SCDF.

As a precautionary measure, about 25 people from neighbouring units were also evacuated by the SCDF and the police.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the fire had likely originated from the batteries of two personal mobility devices (PMD) that were charging in the living room, said the SCDF.

The SCDF reminded the public to take steps to prevent PMD fires. This includes not leaving charging devices unattended for an extended period of time or overnight, and not to buy or use non-original batteries.

Fires involving active mobility devices, including PMDs and e-bikes, saw a 33.3 per cent drop from 63 cases in 2021 to 42 in 2022, according to SCDF's annual statistics report for 2022 released in February.

At the time, SCDF attributed the decrease to the implementation of regulatory measures. But, it also said that such fires continue to be a concern for the authorities as the devices involved are often used by those with walking difficulties.

ALSO READ: 'We were scared there would be an explosion': Sengkang neighbours use crowbar to try save family in burning flat

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.