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2 taken to hospital, 20 evacuated after fire in bedroom of Pasir Ris HDB flat

The fire had likely started from an electrical origin in the bedroom.

Two individuals were hospitalized for smoke inhalation after a fire erupted in a bedroom of an HDB flat in Pasir Ris on September 13. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to the incident at Block 722 Pasir Ris Street 72 around 7:30 am. Prior to the SCDF's arrival, three residents had already evacuated the eighth-floor unit.

Roughly twenty people from the entire block were evacuated out of caution. The fire, which was contained to one bedroom, was doused using a water jet by the SCDF. Two individuals were transported to Singapore General Hospital due to smoke inhalation. Preliminary investigations by the SCDF indicate that the fire may have originated from an electrical issue within the bedroom.

Footage circulating on TikTok shows smoke billowing from an 11-story building and the resounding sound of sirens in the background. One onlooker recounted hearing two explosions, expressing significant anxiety. Upon approaching the scene, emergency responders were seen in three SCDF vehicles and two police cars. Soot was visible on the exterior of units adjacent to the affected flat.

To mitigate such incidents, the SCDF advised against overloading electrical outlets, turning off appliances when not in use, proper battery charging practices, and regular inspection of electrical wiring. It also cautioned against running wires beneath carpets or mats and keeping wires away from heat sources. The condition of electrical wires should be routinely assessed, with frayed wires or cracked cords replaced or repaired promptly.

The SCDF emphasized the use of appliances and electrical plugs bearing the Safety Mark. According to the SCDF's annual statistics report, there was a 3% increase in the total number of fires from 1,990 in 2024 to 2,050 in 2025. Of these, 1,051 were residential building fires, with unattended cooking and electrical fires – including faulty wiring or overloaded sockets – ranking as the top two causes.

Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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