100 residents evacuated from Woodlands block due to bedroom fire allegedly caused by mobile phone charger

About 100 residents were evacuated from a flat that caught fire on the night of Oct 1. along Block 891B Woodlands Drive 50.

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the fire involved a bedroom in a fourth floor unit.

About 100 residents were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure.

Electrical cause of fire

According to a 35-year-old foreign domestic worker who lives in a neighbouring unit on the fourth floor, the fire was purportedly caused by a mobile phone charger, Shin Min Daily News reported.

The domestic worker added that this was what a relative of the affected flat's owner told her when she asked for help with two children in tow.

The flat's owner, a 60-year-old man, said he lived in the unit with his son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren, aged 12 and 13.

At the time of the fire, only his daughter-in-law and the two grandchildren were at home.

The man added that the fire had originated in the bedroom of his son and daughter-in-law, but the cause of the fire is unclear.

He said:

"I have lived here for over 25 years and this is the first time something has happened. I only know it was an electrical issue, maybe it was a mobile phone charger."

Our house has a fire extinguisher, but only my son and I know how to use it. My daughter-in-law took the children to escape, and fortunately, no one was hurt."

According to SCDF, preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was likely caused by an electrical origin in the bedroom.

Neighbour described hearing an explosion

One 50-year-old neighbour told Shin Min she smelled a burning scent just before hearing the sound of an explosion, which shocked her into leaving with her son.

Another neighbour who lived on the third floor, said he had evacuated from his flat with his wife and two-month-old baby at the time of the fire.

SCDF said the fire was extinguished with a water jet.

The SCDF also noted that a person had evacuated the unit before SCDF's arrival.

The person was assessed by a paramedic for smoke inhalation but declined to be sent to the hospital.

The SCDF also reminded the public not to overload power sockets and switch off electrical appliances when not in use.

Top photos via Shin Min Daily News