Dryer apparently catches fire in Tampines HDB flat, 4 occupants escape

A dryer allegedly overheated and caught fire, prompting four residents in a Tampines flat to flee.

The fire severely damaged the kitchen and living room of the unit, reported Shin Min Daily News.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed with Mothership that they were alerted to a fire at Block 714 Tampines Street 71 on Oct. 18 at about 4:45pm.

SCDF added that the fire involved the contents of a kitchen and service yard in a unit on the 13th floor.

Four persons evacuated from the unit before SCDF's arrival.

SCDF extinguished the fire using a water jet.

There were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire is under investigation, SCDF said.

Dryer started to smoke

The owner of the unit, Zhuo (transliteration), told Shin Min on Oct. 19 that he lived there with four tenants, but he was not home at the time.

He learned of the fire after receiving a call from one of his tenants, who told him that there was smoke from the dryer and the clothes inside were on fire.

"I told her to open the dryer and try to put it out with water, but the flames grew too fast, and it was too late, so they had to run for safety," he said.

Zhuo explained that the dryer was purchased about six or seven years ago.

It had been running for about two hours at the time of the incident.

Residents evacauted

Zhuo also told Shin Min that the tenants knocked on doors to notify their neighbours to evacuate while they were fleeing.

A male resident living below the apartment told Shin Min that he noticed white smoke coming from upstairs, followed by a burning smell.

Shortly afterwards, rescue personnel told them to evacuate.

They were allowed to return home about an hour later.

Other residents downstairs said they heard a loud explosion when it happened.

According to Shin Min, the SCDF investigation lasted until around 9pm that night before the cordon was lifted.

Advisory

SCDF said the top three causes of fires in residential premises are unattended cooking, electrical fires and unattended lighted materials.

"Residents are strongly advised not to leave cooking unattended, and to keep stove-tops, cooker hoods and ovens clean and free of grease," they said.

"They should also avoid overloading power sockets or charging devices overnight without supervision. Lighted materials such as incense sticks or cigarettes should never be left unattended and must be fully extinguished before disposal," SCDF added.