S'pore teen, 18, bravely helps save grandfather & grandson from Buangkok flat fire

When a fire broke out in his neighbour's flat, an 18-year-old Institute of Technical Education (ITE) student rushed to help extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher.

He also rescued a grandfather and her grandson and let them stay in his house temporarily.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to a fire at Block 979B Buangkok Crescent at around 12:25am.

According to SCDF, the fire involved the contents of a bedroom in a second-floor unit and was extinguished using a water jet.

A person was conveyed to Sengkang General Hospital, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Call for help

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the flat owner, 31-year-old Sang Ting (transliteration), said his elderly parents and 8-year-old son were home at the time.

Sang Ting said his father was resting on the bed when the electrical circuit near the window apparently malfunctioned and caused a fire.

Sang Ting's father was able to run out of the room quickly, and his mother ran outside to ask their neighbours for help.

One neighbour who responded to the call was 18-year-old Zhou Yiheng (transliteration).

Zhou knew Sang Ting and his family since he was a child, as their families were close.

Zhou told Shin Min Daily News that he was scrolling through his phone when he suddenly heard glass breaking and his neighbour's cries for help.

"I opened my door and found my neighbour asking for help. At the time, the area was filled with thick smoke. I knew there was an elderly man and a child still inside the unit, so I quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher, covered my nose and mouth with a wet towel, and ran over."

He then pushed the main door open and saw the elderly man and the young boy standing in the living room.

He quickly tried to put out the fire with the fire extinguisher, but it was too strong, so he had to leave.

Zhou said that the only thing on his mind was figuring out how to get his neighbours out of the unit safely.

Grateful

Sang Ting shared that several glass bottles fell to the floor and broke during the fire, injuring his father as he stepped on the broken glass. He was later taken to hospital for treatment, Shin Min Daily News wrote.

Sang Ting expressed his deep appreciation for his neighbours who came together and helped.

His parents and son later stayed at Zhou's house as they had known the family for nearly 20 years, he shared.