One dead in fire at Canberra Crescent flat, about 30 residents evacuated

SINGAPORE: A person was found dead in the bedroom of a burning flat at Block 131C Canberra Crescent on Saturday (Feb 24).

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire at about 12.45pm.

“Black smoke was emitting from a unit on the third floor. Firefighters from Yishun Fire Station conducted forcible entry into the smoke-logged unit to fight the fire," said SCDF.

It added that the fire involved the contents of a bedroom.

The victim, an unidentified man, was pronounced dead at the scene, said the police.

Three people from neighbouring units were assessed by paramedics for smoke inhalation. One of them, a 40-year-old woman, was taken conscious to Singapore General Hospital.

About 30 residents from the second to fourth floor of the Housing Board block were also evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Member of Parliament for the area, Ong Ye Kung, said authorities will be helping affected residents. 

“HDB, the town council and community organisations will be visiting the neighbouring units, and are ready to assist those who need help,” Mr Ong, who is also Health Minister, said on Facebook.

Releasing its annual statistics earlier this week, SCDF said it responded to 1,954 fires in 2023, an increase of 8.6 per cent compared with 2022. Causes of electrical origin and unattended cooking were the top two causes of fires, accounting for 597 cases and 456 cases respectively.

The number of fires involving active mobility devices rose by 31 per cent in 2023. There were 55 cases last year, up from the figure of 42 in 2022.