A fire broke out in a maisonette unit at Potong Pasir after a personal mobility device (PMD) caught fire. A man was trapped inside and was seen calling for help from the window. He was later taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Sadly, his pet cat did not survive.
The incident happened on Wednesday (Oct 1) at around 3 pm at Block 132 Potong Pasir Avenue 1. The affected flat is a two-storey maisonette.
When Shin Min Daily News reporters reached the scene at about 5pm, the fire had already been put out. Several police and SCDF vehicles were still there, and the affected area was cordoned off.
The unit’s first-floor living room was completely charred. The windows were destroyed, glass shards were scattered on the ground, and the doorway was covered in ashes. The second-floor walls and windows were also blackened by smoke.
A video obtained by Shin Min Daily News showed the fire raging fiercely in the living room, flames shooting out of the windows and thick black smoke pouring out. Shattered glass covered the ground as bystanders shouted for the occupant to escape.
One resident, Madam Yip, 66, a housewife, said she suddenly heard a loud explosion. When she looked out, she saw her neighbour’s home engulfed in flames.
Another resident, Mr Tan, 46, who lives directly above the affected unit, said he saw the thick smoke and quickly evacuated with his wife, children and valuables. Fortunately, only soot entered his unit and there was no major damage.
Neighbours told reporters that they heard the trapped man shouting “help” from the second floor, as the flames below made it impossible for him to escape.
Several residents rushed to help. Some called the authorities, while others kept children away from danger. One resident even tried to put out the fire with a garden hose, but the fire was too strong.
A man who said he was a friend of the victim shared that the injured man suffered burns on 30 to 40 percent of his body and was undergoing surgery.
Neighbours added that when the man was rescued, he was still conscious. However, his pet cat did not make it and was found dead later.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that they were alerted to the fire at about 2.55 pm. The fire involved contents in the living room and was extinguished using one water jet. Firefighters rescued one person from the unit, who was later taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation.
Preliminary investigations showed that the fire likely started from a PMD in the living room.
SCDF also reminded the public to take precautions to prevent such fires. Do not overcharge or leave devices charging overnight, and avoid buying or using non-original batteries.
