On the evening of January 9, 2026, a significant residential fire broke out in a Housing Board flat in Tampines, leading to a large-scale emergency response and the hospitalisation of a firefighter. The Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted to the incident at Block 29 Tampines Street 86 at approximately 9:05pm. The fire originated within a unit located on the 15th floor of the block, creating a hazardous situation for residents and responders alike.
Upon the arrival of the emergency teams, the fire was found to be concentrated in one of the bedrooms of the high-rise unit. At the time the blaze broke out, no one was inside the apartment, which meant that there were no civilian injuries reported within the affected home. However, because the unit was locked and heavily smoke-filled, the responding firefighters had to perform a forcible entry to gain access to the seat of the fire. Clad in full protective gear and breathing apparatus, the team entered the hazardous environment to prevent the flames from spreading to the rest of the flat or neighbouring units.
The intense heat and thick smoke within the confined space of the 15th-floor apartment made the operation particularly challenging. During the course of the firefighting efforts, one SCDF personnel experienced heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is a serious condition that can occur when the body is subjected to extreme temperatures, especially while performing heavy physical labour in protective equipment. The affected firefighter was immediately attended to by medical personnel at the scene and subsequently conveyed to Changi General Hospital for further treatment and monitoring.
As a safety precaution, approximately 100 residents from the affected block were evacuated. Police and SCDF personnel assisted in the evacuation process to ensure that residents remained at a safe distance while the firefighting operation was underway. The fire was eventually extinguished using two water jets. While the damage was largely confined to the bedroom where the fire started, the heat and smoke caused significant impact to the room's interior.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force took the opportunity to remind the public about the importance of fire safety within the home. In an official communication following the incident, they advised residents to be diligent in preventing fire hazards. Key recommendations included ensuring that lighted materials, such as candles or incense sticks, are completely extinguished before leaving the house. Furthermore, the public was urged never to leave cooking unattended on the stove and to avoid overloading electrical power sockets, which can lead to short circuits and fires. Switching off electrical appliances and power supplies when they are not in use is another vital step in reducing the risk of accidental fires.
Currently, the cause of the fire at Block 29 Tampines Street 86 is still under investigation by the SCDF. Investigators will be looking into the damaged bedroom to determine the exact ignition source. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by first responders and the importance of community vigilance in fire prevention. The condition of the hospitalised firefighter is being monitored, and the evacuated residents were eventually allowed to return to their homes once the site was declared safe by the authorities.
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