40 evacuated from Bishan HDB block in fire reportedly caused by mosquito coil

About 40 people were evacuated from a Bishan HDB block on March 1 during a blaze that is believed to have been sparked by an unattended mosquito coil.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), replying to queries from The Straits Times, said it responded at about 1.30pm to the fire at Block 176 Bishan Street 13.

A bedroom and the living room of the fifth floor unit were engulfed in flames, said the SCDF.

In a video of the incident put up on Facebook, at least six units appeared to be affected by the fire, with thick black smoke billowing from the fifth floor and flames spreading to the air conditioning units outside.

As the fire raged, charred debris fell off the building.

By the time the blaze was extinguished with two water jets, some units above the fifth floor had sustained heat and smoke damage, SCDF said.

Four people had fled from the affected unit before the arrival of SCDF.

SCDF said: "The police and SCDF evacuated about 40 people from the affected block. There were no reported injuries."

Early SCDF investigations suggest that the cause of fire is likely due to lit materials that were left unattended.

Chinese-language news outlet Shin Min Daily News reported that the fire was sparked by an ignited mosquito coil in the master bedroom.

The owner of the unit told Shin Min that she was eating with her mother in the living room when she smelt smoke.

Upon opening the master bedroom, the 52-year-old, who wanted to be known only as Ms Li, discovered that a cardboard box and a bed near the mosquito coil had caught fire. The room was also filled with thick smoke.

Attempts to put out the growing flames with water from the kitchen were futile, she said, adding that she carried her pet cat and fled with her parents and domestic helper.

In the rush, she was unable to find the pet terrapin that she kept for about 20 years, but fortunately, firefighters were able to save the animal.

While mosquito coils can be effective in warding off pests, they have in the past sparked fatal fires worldwide.

In 1999, mosquito coils caused a blaze that gutted a seaside summer camp in South Korea, killing 19 children and four adults.

More recently, in December 2024, a pair of brothers in India died due to a fire believed to have been started by a lit mozzie repellent.

The National Environment Agency on its website said people need to use a mosquito coil holder and to keep mosquito coils away from combustible materials.