Fire size of 1.5 football fields breaks out at Tuas South industrial building; SCDF expects 'extended firefighting operation'

SINGAPORE — A fire broke out in an industrial building along Tuas South Avenue 8 on Monday (March 13), with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) expecting an "extended firefighting operation".

In a Facebook post, SCDF said that it was alerted to a fire at the location at 6.15pm and firefighting operations are ongoing.

At the time of firefighters' arrival, the fire was raging inside a warehouse that was connected to an industrial building, which included a six-storey production unit. 

Two water jets and a ground monitor were deployed to the scene to put out the blaze, but by around 9pm, SCDF said in an update on Facebook that the fire was the size of about 1.5 football fields and firefighters were using eight water jets and an unmanned firefighting machine to put out the blaze.

Solvents and flammable construction materials were in the fire, SCDF added.

Two workers were earlier assessed by an SCDF paramedic for blisters on the hands and forehead. They refused to be taken to the hospital.

There were no other reported injuries.

At about 12am on Tuesday, SCDF published another update on Facebook, stating that a total of 26 emergency vehicles and about 80 personnel were deployed for this incident. 

"At the height of the firefighting operation, SCDF firefighters deployed eight water jets and an unmanned firefighting machine," said SCDF in the post.

It stated that the fire was brought under control at about 8.15pm, but the firefighting operation was still ongoing.

"Once the fire has been extinguished, firefighters will remain at the site to damp down the affected areas with water," SCDF said. 

Damping down refers to the application of water to wet burnt surfaces immediately after a fire is put out, to prevent the potential rekindling of the fire.

SCDF sent an SMS through the SMS Public Alert System and the SGSecure mobile application to advise members of the public within the vicinity of the incident to avoid the area.

"This is expected to be an extended firefighting operation," it said.

A video clip posted on Facebook by Masum Rj shows huge plumes of smoke coming out from one of the factory buildings in the area.

The said address is listed by a company called Sika Singapore, which supplies materials to the building and construction industry as well as manufacturing industries.

TODAY has reached out to Sika Singapore for comments.