Redhill flat fire sends four people to hospital as 50 more evacuated

Four people were taken to hospital following a fire that broke out in a Redhill flat in the wee hours of Aug 28.

In a Facebook post on the same day, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it responded to a fire at Block 68 Redhill Close at 1.15am.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, the living room of the fourth-floor HDB unit was in flames. SCDF personnel extinguished the fire with a water jet.

The fire was confined to the living room, SCDF noted.

Three people who were conscious were rescued from one of the bedrooms and assessed for smoke inhalation and minor burn injuries.

The trio were taken to Singapore General Hospital, along with a resident from another unit on a different floor who felt unwell.

SCDF added that about 50 people from the affected block were also evacuated by the police as a precautionary measure.

Preliminary findings show that the cause of the fire is likely from an electrical origin in the living room, said SCDF.

To prevent such fires, SCDF reminded the public to not overload electrical outlets with electrical appliances, to always switch off appliances when they are not in use, and to check the condition of wires regularly.

SCDF added that frayed wires or cracked cords should be replaced or repaired immediately.

People should not run wires under carpets or mats, and should keep wires away from hot surfaces. Batteries or devices should also not be left charging unattended for a long period of time, or overnight.

SCDF also advised people to use only appliances and electrical plugs bearing the Safety Mark. The categories of appliances can be found on this website.