A woman’s washing machine unexpectedly caught fire and reportedly “exploded” in her Tampines flat on Feb. 25, 2026, leaving residents shocked but unharmed.
Fire Breaks Out During Laundry
The incident happened at about 1:30pm at a four-room flat at Block 226 Tampines Street 23. The six-year-old washing machine began emitting smoke while the homeowner, Lin, was cooking curry in the kitchen. She first tried to switch it off using a bamboo pole and then unplugged it, but the fire continued to grow. Lin said, “I ran out of the kitchen when I saw that the washing machine was still on fire.”
Neighbours Rush to Help
Black smoke filled the unit, and several neighbors came to assist. Among them was a 24-year-old man with prior firefighting experience, who retrieved a fire extinguisher and attempted to put out the flames. Residents also helped evacuate a 90-year-old woman in a wheelchair from the building. Lin added that she heard two “explosions” from the washing machine during the incident.
Damage and Aftermath
The fire left the kitchen ceiling charred, glass shards scattered on the floor, and burn marks on parts of the living room ceiling. Some water was observed inside the unit after the fire was put out, though many items on the cabinets and tables remained largely unaffected.
SCDF Response
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed they were alerted at about 1:45pm to a washing machine fire in the fifth-floor unit. They extinguished the blaze using a water jet. SCDF added that there were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
