A 66-year-old man was hospitalized following a blaze that erupted in a Dakota Housing and Development Board (HDB) building corridor on the morning of June 10th. According to officials from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Police, the incident was reported around 9am at Block 52 Cassia Crescent. The fire, which ignited along the building’s fourth-floor communal corridor, was swiftly quelled with a hose reel. The emergency led to the evacuation of around 50 individuals from the premises.
Eye-witness reports, including one from a resident known as Zheng (a transliteration of her name), indicated that the man believed to be responsible for the fire had to be rushed to the hospital. Sighted around 9am, the man seemed aware yet struggled with breathing difficulties as he was placed into an ambulance. Zheng and other sources indicated to Shin Min Daily News that the man had allegedly been burning plastic items in the corridor, which might have sparked the blaze. The aftermath of the fire was evident, with the corridor’s walls and ceiling visibly charred and the floor covered in ash. Additionally, the end of the corridor showcased a number of bicycles that were severely burnt and damaged.
Neighborhood testimonies described the man as a long-time resident who lived by himself. Known to keep to himself, he seldom interacted with his neighbors. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that the individual was transported to Singapore General Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, while they also noted that the exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the authorities.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing as police and fire officials work to ascertain more details around the circumstances leading up to the fire.
