13-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) A tenant from China has been forced to take refuge in a charred Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat after a fire broke out, leaving her with no alternative accommodation.
The incident unfolded on the 15th storey of Block 463 Crawford Lane on December 11, around 11:50 pm, leading to the evacuation of 35 residents from the affected block. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
Despite the late-night blaze, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that the flat was unoccupied at the time of the incident. The cause of the fire was determined to be a charging e-bike battery in the living room, prompting the SCDF to issue a reminder against leaving Personal Mobility Device (PMD)/Power-Assisted Bicycle (PAB) batteries charging overnight or for extended periods.
Following the incident, reporters from Shin Min Daily News visited the flat the morning after the fire. Inside, two tenants were found in one of the bedrooms, with repairs underway in the hallway and living room where the fire was contained.
One of the tenants, identified as Chen, shared with Shin Min Daily News that she arrived in Singapore from China just half a month ago with aspirations of becoming a nightclub singer. Renting a room in the Crawford Lane flat with a roommate, Chen returned from work at approximately 3 am on December 12 to discover the charred apartment with utilities cut off.
Facing unfamiliarity with the area and a lack of friends in Singapore, Chen and her roommate opted to spend the night in their room. Unable to afford a hotel stay, Chen expressed to the Chinese paper that she might continue residing in the damaged flat.
While the SCDF responded promptly to the fire, the incident highlights the challenges faced by tenants in emergency situations, particularly those who may lack immediate support networks or financial means for alternative accommodation.
