Fire at Joo Chiat terrace houses: 1 person sent to hospital, 20 people evacuated

A fire broke out at Chiku Road at about 4am on Dec. 14 amidst heavy rain.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the fire at three single-storey terrace units at the location was spreading to the adjacent units upon their arrival.

One person was assessed for smoke inhalation and conveyed to Singapore General Hospital.

About 20 people from the affected units, as well as neighbouring units, were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure.

Firefighting operation

SCDF firefighters immediately set up water jets to surround and contain the fire to the three units, they said.

A combined platform ladder was also deployed for aerial firefighting and to prevent the further spread of the fire.

At the height of the operation, a total of seven water jets were deployed.

The fire was extinguished at about 6:45am.

As a result of the fire, six adjoining terrace units sustained varying degree of burn damage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, they said.

Witness account

A passerby who witnessed the fire told Mothership that she saw several foreign workers who had packed their luggage and evacuated from their dormitory.

She added that she heard that the injured person may have sustained burns to his arms while attempting to extinguish the fire.

Top photos from SCDF/Facebook and Mothership reader