Driver ignores police, SCDF warnings to save burning car in McNair Road carpark

The public should follow the instructions of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and police at the scene of a fire for their own safety, said the police on May 2.

This advice follows video footage of a man seemingly ignoring the instructions of the police and firefighters during a fire at the carpark of Block 111 McNair Road on May 1, at about 8pm.

In a recording uploaded to the Roads.sg Facebook page, the police and firefighters can be heard shouting "don't drive" as he enters the car, which is parked beside a burning car. They yell at him to "go away" and "come out" of the vehicle.

"Crazy," remarked the netizen who captured the footage, reacting to what appeared to be the man's attempt to save his car.

"The driver of the car exited the parking lot and turned right towards SCDF officers, who were in the midst of setting up hoses in the carpark," said the police in a media statement.

"A police officer intervened to knock on his car door to get his attention, and to direct him away from the ongoing SCDF operations," they added.

According to the SCDF, the fire involved the engine compartment of a car in the open-air carpark. The blaze was extinguished using a water jet and no injuries were reported.

Comments on the video were divided. Some praised the driver for the dangerous manoeuvre as he "did the right thing to create space" and prevent the fire from spreading.

Others remarked that if the car had exploded, injuring him, the authorities would have to shoulder the blame despite their warnings.