SINGAPORE: A 51-year-old man has been arrested for the offence of mischief by fire after a blaze broke out at a Housing Board block at 20 Jalan Tenteram on Thursday (May 29).
The police said it received a call for assistance at about 11.40am.
“Four persons, aged between 12 and 74, were conveyed conscious to the hospital. A 51-year-old man was also conveyed conscious to the hospital and subsequently arrested for the offence of mischief by fire.”
The police added that investigations are ongoing.
About 40 others were evacuated from the block as a precautionary measure, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
In a post on social media, SCDF said that firefighters responded to the fire at about 11.40am, and that the fire involved items placed along the corridor outside units on the second and third floors.
“The fire had also affected the inside of both these units,” it said, adding that the fire was extinguished using two water jets.
“As a result of the fire, a few neighbouring units also sustained heat and soot damage.”
Two people were taken to Singapore General Hospital, two to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and one to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital for smoke inhalation.
“The cause of the fire is under investigation,” SCDF said.
SCDF advised members of the public to “help maintain a safe living environment by keeping common corridors, lift lobbies and staircases free of clutter”.
“A cluttered corridor can increase the risk of fire spread, hinder evacuation efforts and delay SCDF’s response during an emergency,” it said.
