Fire reportedly started by mosquito coil burns Bishan HDB flat, 40 evacuated

About 40 people were evacuated from an HDB block in Bishan on Mar. 1 as a result of a fire believed to have been sparked by a mosquito coil.

A video of the incident posted on Facebook shows at least six units affected by the blaze, with thick black smoke snaking its way upward from the fifth floor.

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it responded to a fire on Mar. 1, 2025 at about 1:30pm at Block 176 Bishan Street 13 involving a bedroom and the living room of a unit on the fifth floor.

Preliminary findings indicate that the cause of the fire is likely due to lighted materials that were left unattended.

Fire caused by mosquito coil

Shin Min Daily News reported that the fire was caused by a mosquito coil in the master bedroom.

The owner of the unit, who wanted to be known by her surname Lee, told Shin Min she was eating in the dining room with her mother when they smelled smoke.

After searching for the origin of the smell, she found that the cardboard box where the mosquito coil was placed was on fire. The fire had also spread to the bed, filling the room with thick smoke.

Lee and her domestic helper attempted to put out the fire, to no avail. Seeing that the fire was spreading, Lee, her domestic helper, and her parents quickly fled the HDB unit.

SCDF said that the fire was extinguished with two water jets, and some units above the affected unit sustained heat and smoke damage.

There were no reported injuries.