SCDF firefighter taken to hospital after responding to fire in Boon Lay flat

A firefighter was sent to hospital as he felt unwell while attending to a fire that broke out in the kitchen of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat in Boon Lay on Jul. 24.

He was given three days of medical leave.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told Mothership that they were alerted to the fire at 197D Boon Lay Drive at about 6:20pm on Jul. 24.

The fire involved contents of a kitchen in a unit on the fifth floor, SCDF said.

The fire

A video circulated to Facebook showed smoke billowing out of a fifth-floor window at the Boon Lay block.

More than 20 people had gathered below the block and watched as SCDF personnel conducted their firefighting operation.

SCDF said that their team extinguished the fire with a water jet and a hose reel.

Preliminary findings indicate that the fire was likely caused by unattended cooking, said SCDF.

A resident told Shin Min Daily News that a couple in their 60s lived in the affected unit, but were not at home when the fire broke out.

The resident said she heard that the couple's domestic helper had apparently left the fire on to cook food, before she herself went out to see a doctor.

She added that many residents, including herself, had to evacuate downstairs.

Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for West Coast-Jurong West GRC, arrived at about 8pm the same evening to speak to affected residents, Shin Min reported.

The firefighting operation reportedly ended at around 10pm.

A picture of the affected unit published by Shin Min showed that its living room and ceiling had been damaged by the fire.

Firefighter sent to hospital after feeling unwell

SCDF said that during the firefighting operation on Jul. 24, a firefighter experienced fatigue and felt unwell.

He was assessed by a paramedic and conveyed to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital for further checks.

The firefighter has since been discharged and given three days of medical leave.

In the wake of the incident, SCDF reminded the public not to leave any cooking or heating activities unattended.

Additionally, any gas or electric supply should be switched off when not in use.

Top image from Shin Min Daily News & SG Warehouse Sale & Events/Facebook