It would appear that even if the Human Torch were to go rogue here in Singapore, we’ll be more than ready to combat his fearsome fire-shooting powers.
After all, there’s no fire that our Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) can’t handle.
And I’m not even capping anything.
Over 100 Residents Evacuated in Telok Blangah HDB Fire
Just yesterday (6 September 2021), SCDF posted a late-night “expedition” on their Facebook page, detailing another victory over yet another spine-chilling fire.
In the post, it was revealed that a fire had broken out at Block 3 Telok Blangah Crescent and the SCDF were alerted at around 8:00 p.m.
Subsequently arriving at the scene, they noticed that the fire had overwhelmed items that were placed along the corridor of the 9th floor.
Firefighters then set about extinguishing the fire with the assistance of a water jet.
During the process, over 100 residents from the 9th to 12th floors were evacuated by the SCDF and the Police Force. Several had self-evacuated beforehand.
Eight people were eventually assessed for injuries, with four sent to Singapore General Hospital for further assessment.
The other four, however, rejected conveyance to the hospital.
Investigations are currently ongoing.
You can view the post down below:
The SCDF has also warned against the cluttering of corridors, stating that excess items may affect fire-fighting efforts, fire evacuation and the transfer of patients.
In addition, a cluttered common area could cause fires if lighted materials, such as cigarette butts, are thrown their way.
As such, residents are advised not to leave items along corridors, lift lobbies, escape routes as well as staircases.
A minimum clear escape route of 1.2m should always be made available, and bulky items can be removed by the Town Council.
Netizens React
To date, the post has garnered over 190 likes & reactions, as well as some 90 shares.
Netizens have also saluted the SCDF for their hard work, with one actual resident (who was evacuated) thanking the defence force.
“I am thankful of all the personnel helped to evacuate me from 12th floor with oxygen tank last night.”
“Their professionalism, tactfulness and making me as comfortable as much despite their tireless efforts is truly appreciated from the bottom of my heart. Especially the medics, the firemen and a firewoman who carried me all the way down! Wah sis you very powerful sis!”
“Kudos SCDF! YOU ARE OUR HEROES. You deserve all the cheers and applause!”
Meanwhile, another netizen proposed that residents should always have a fire extinguisher at home. This is, however, only advisable with the right circumstances, which I shall explore later on.
In the case of a fire hazard, one is advised to either report the issue through the myResponder mobile app or dial SCDF’s hotline at 1800-280-0000.
Other Dangers
Apart from being a fire hazard, cluttered corridors could also endanger young children.
In July this year, a 2-year-old fell and hit his face on a flower pot while walking through a cluttered corridor in front of his neighbour’s unit.
The boy hurt his left cheek, resulting in redness and a bruise.
The pain was so intense that he cried.
Apart from potted plants, the clutter also included a shoe cabinet and a clothes rack.
After the relevant authorities got involved, around 20 items were removed from the corridor.
Meanwhile, while it’s great to have a fire extinguisher at home, it’s prudent to not let an expired one linger at home.
Exploding Fire Extinguisher
In August this year, a fire extinguisher reportedly shot out of a window of the 23rd storey of a skyscraper.
The fire extinguisher then plummeted at a high speed and rebounded off the ground before smashing through the glass panels of the opposite building, the Gateway East, which was 50m away.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the freak accident. It turns out that the extinguisher had expired and burst before it smashed through the window.
While it is a rare occurrence, fire extinguishers can malfunction if not serviced regularly.
Meanwhile, on its website, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that the owner or occupant of a building should conduct inspections of fire extinguishers on at least a monthly basis.
Read Also:
- A Neighbour’s Incense Burning on a Cardboard Allegedly Caused a Fire in an HDB Corridor
- Grab Car Burst Into Flames, Minutes After Passengers and Driver Got Off
Feature Image: SCDF