3-4-2024 (SINGAPORE) In the wake of a blaze in Eunos just hours earlier, another fire wreaked havoc at an industrial estate in Defu Lane early Wednesday morning (Apr 3), resulting in the hospitalization of a firefighter and one other individual.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) swiftly responded to the emergency, which was reported at Block 30 Defu Lane 9 around 12:20 am. Located not far from Paya Lebar Air Base and the residential enclave of Kovan, the industrial precinct became the focal point of a harrowing ordeal.
The fire engulfed a two-storey industrial edifice, comprising a ground-level vehicle workshop and an office on the upper floor. By the time firefighters reached the scene, five individuals had already evacuated the premises, as confirmed by SCDF in a Facebook update around 2:35 am.
Amidst the chaos, two persons were evaluated for smoke inhalation, necessitating the hospitalization of one at Sengkang General Hospital, while the other opted against medical attention. Additionally, a firefighter succumbed to heat exhaustion during the operation, prompting a precautionary transfer to the same hospital, according to SCDF statements.
Thankfully, no further casualties were reported. However, the magnitude of the incident warranted a substantial deployment of emergency resources, including 19 vehicles and approximately 70 firefighters. The firefighting efforts utilised four water jets and two unmanned firefighting machines to combat the raging inferno.
With public safety in mind, authorities issued advisories urging civilians to steer clear of the affected area. Notifications were dispatched via the SGSecure mobile app and through major telecommunications providers to residents within the vicinity of Defu Lane.
After a gruelling two-hour battle, firefighters managed to quell the flames, initiating damping down procedures to ensure residual embers were extinguished thoroughly. Damping down involves saturating burnt surfaces with water post-firefighting to avert any potential rekindling.
This incident marks the second industrial fire within a single night. Preceding the Defu Lane conflagration, a blaze erupted around 9:15 pm on Tuesday at Eunos Avenue 6, approximately 5 kilometres away, amplifying concerns over industrial safety and emergency response protocols.
