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Over 65 residents evacuated after Serangoon North fire; 2 women taken to hospital

SINGAPORE — More than 65 residents were evacuated after a Housing and Development Board flat in Serangoon North Ave 1 caught fire on Thursday (Jan 19) evening.

SINGAPORE — More than 65 residents were evacuated after a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat in Serangoon North Ave 1 caught fire on Thursday (Jan 19) evening.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that they were alerted to the fire at Block 147, Serangoon North Avenue 1 at 7.15pm. The contents of a bedroom were on fire.

A total of 16 residents who were “in close proximity and directly above” the affected unit were evacuated, the SCDF said.

An additional 50 residents from the block were also evacuated.

“The fire was extinguished by the SCDF using compressed air foam and one water jet. No forcible entry was conducted,” the SCDF said.

The SCDF added that a woman in her 80s and another woman in her 30s were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties.

TODAY understands that they were conscious when taken to the hospital and are in stable condition.

Photo: Ken Chan

An eyewitness told TODAY that the fire occurred around 7pm.

Mr Ken Chan, who lives at an opposite block, said he first noticed white smoke emitting from a HDB unit on the second floor.

As the smoke became thicker, the 26-year-old undergraduate decided to alert the authorities at 7.15pm.

“There was a power outage that affected the whole block,” he said. A coffee shop at the same block was also hit by power outage.

There were at least two fire engines, two police cars and one ambulance on the scene.

TODAY understands that no one was home when the fire started.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, said the SCDF.

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