One found dead in bedroom after SCDF breaks into Sembawang flat to fight fire

A person was pronounced dead at the scene after a fire broke out in a Sembawang flat on Feb 24 afternoon.

A video of fire engines arriving at the scene was posted online.

@online_cyh

In a Facebook post, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted at about 12:45pm to the fire at Block 131C Canberra Crescent.

When SCDF arrived, black smoke was emitting from a third-storey flat.

Firefighters from Yishun Fire Station conducted forcible entry into the smoke-logged unit to fight the fire, which involved the contents of a bedroom and was extinguished with a water jet.

A person was found inside the bedroom and was pronounced dead at the scene by an SCDF paramedic.

About 30 people from the second to fourth storey were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure.

Paramedics assessed three neighbouring residents for smoke inhalation and took one of them to Singapore General Hospital. The other two declined to be taken to the hospital.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung, who is an MP for Sembawang GRC, posted on social media: "We thank the SCDF for responding promptly and putting out the fire as quickly as possible.

"HDB, the town council and community organisations will be visiting the neighbouring units, and are ready to assist those who need help."