S'pore police officer helps mum with 3 children evacuate during HDB flat fire

Sergeant Syazwani Binte Razali joined the Singapore Police Force in 2019.

After six months of training, she was posted to Ang Mo Kio division's Punggol police station.

Her day usually involves routine patrols through the neighbourhood in Punggol.

"It helps to deter crime and gives residents a sense of security," Syazwani explained in the police profile interview, Police Life.

One of the more memorable experiences of her time in the police came on Jan. 14, 2025.

Syazwani and her partner arrived at a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat, which was on fire.

The blaze had engulfed the entire kitchen.

While the scene was chaotic, her focus was solely on ensuring the safety of the people.

She spotted the homeowner outside the unit, still in shock.

Syazwani was unable to confirm if there were other people in the unit from the outside, so she went in.

She entered the smoke-filled unit and shouted to alert anyone that might still be inside.

Thankfully, there was no one there, so she began evacuating other residents in the vicinity.

Syazwani then encountered a mother with three young children amid the smoke from the affected unit.

"I carried one child down the stairs to safety," she told Police Life.

"At that moment, all I could think about was the safety of the family."

Thankfully, all the residents managed to evacuate safely.

For all that and more, Syazwani was recognised with the 2026 Individual Commendation Award at the Commissioner of Police’s Commendation Ceremony.

Syazwani says the most meaningful moments are not necessarily the adrenaline pumping chases or the awards:

She said: "Even a ‘thank you’ from members of the public reminds me why I chose this profession."

Read the full profile here.

Image from Koh Jia Yun/Singapore Police