Fire at Hong Lim food centre during lunch hour, diners evacuate as thick smoke engulf premises

A fire broke out at Hong Lim Market and Food Centre on Jan. 2, 2026.

Videos by Mothership reader Joven Chiam showed diners leaving the hawker centre as smoke engulfed the premises.

The fire could be seen at a stall in the background in one of the videos.

Thick smoke

According to user "mnqy" on Reddit, who was waiting for a seat at the market, a lot of smoke could be seen at around 12:38pm.

Despite the fire, at least two people were observed to have run down the stairs with their food, apparently to continue eating, the forum user added.

Another Reddit user at the hawer centre encouraged other diners to evacuate, but apparently received strange looks, as seats there were supposedly "super hard to get".

The user "dyslexic_draws" said: "The fire alarm went off and some people evacuated as the smoke became stronger, but many people on the perimeter still ate their lunch, even as the fire engines came."

Mothership reader "calzburps" who was eating with a friend, had to evacuate halfway at around 12:40pm due to the fire.

Fire scene

When Mothership arrived at the market at around 2pm, police tape to cordon off the area was put up.

The fire started at one of the stalls on the second floor.

Evacuated

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that they were alerted at 12:40pm to a fire at 531A Upper Cross Street, which is the address of Hong Lim Market and Food Centre.

SCDF said the fire involved the kitchen exhaust ducting on the second floor, which was extinguished using three water jets.

Four people were evacuated by SCDF from the affected block as a precautionary measure.

SCDF added that there were no reported injuries and the cause of fire is under investigation.

SCDF said they would like to remind the public, especially stall holders, on the prevention of kitchen exhaust ducting fires.

Top photos via mnqy/Reddit, Telegram