Residents stuck on higher floors evacuated in Toa Payoh fire

Seven people, including a child and a firefighter, were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in an HDB flat in Toa Payoh on July 29, said Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Saktiandi Supaat.

- Fatimah Mujibah and Nadine Chua

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to the fire on the 10th floor of Block 229, Toa Payoh Lorong 8, at about 1pm.

SCDF said: "Upon arrival, the fire was raging and had totally engulfed a unit on the 10th floor. Firefighters extinguished the fire with two water jets.

"Another team of firefighters conducted forcible entry into a unit directly above the 10th-floor unit that was on fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire in the 11th-floor unit with a water jet."

Mr Saktiandi said five residents and a firefighter were taken to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). One child from a neighbouring unit was assessed for smoke inhalation and was taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

Two people from the affected unit on the 10th floor and three others from neighbouring units were assessed for smoke inhalation - one of them also had burn injuries, said SCDF.

The firefighter who was taken to hospital experienced fatigue and felt unwell during the operation. He was taken to SGH as a precaution.

In an update nearly five hours after the fire started, SCDF said the fire in both units was put out with three water jets in total.

SCDF paramedics worked throughout the afternoon and focused on evacuating residents who were stuck on higher floors.