Three taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat

SINGAPORE: Three people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in an HDB flat in Toa Payoh on Tuesday (July 29).

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to the fire at Block 229 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh at about 1pm.

The fire was raging inside a unit on the 10th floor when firefighters arrived.

Three people were assessed for smoke inhalation and burn injuries, and taken to Singapore General Hospital.

When The Straits Times arrived at the scene at about 2.20pm, at least 11 firefighters could be seen running in a cordoned-off area where the police were also present, to gather equipment, while crowds had gathered.

Thick, black smoke could be seen from three of the affected unit’s windows. The damage and smoke had also transferred to the surrounding units, leaving a black cast.

Residents who were evacuated said the fire had later spread from the affected unit to the 11th and 12th floors.

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP, Saktiandi Supaat, who was at the scene at around 2.45pm, said firefighting efforts are ongoing.

Saktiandi said: “The fire started at the 10th storey. Residents have been evacuated but I’m aware that several residents are still stuck up at the higher floors. SCDF is doing their best to get them down.”

An older woman could be seen being ferried out in a wheelchair and being attended to by SCDF paramedics.

A resident who wanted to be known only as Rebecca, 83, said she smelt smoke at around 1.30pm when she was about to take a nap.

Rebecca, who lives on the second storey of the block with her domestic helper, said: “I evacuated immediately using the stairs. When I got to the void deck, there was an old woman who was with her daughter. The older woman was holding a dog and crying.”

The crying woman told firefighters that she was struggling to breathe and she was later attended to by paramedics, added Rebecca, who has lived in the block for 30 years. – The Straits Times/ANN