'An inspiration to us all': SCDF chief pays tribute to NSF Edward Go who died in firefighting operation

SINGAPORE — Fire call alarms were sounded across all fire stations on Tuesday (Dec 13) morning as the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paid tribute to the full-time national serviceman (NSF) who died in a firefighting operation last week.

Corporal Edward H Go, who fell unconscious while battling a flat fire in Henderson Road on Dec 8, was also posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant (1) and accorded full ceremonial honours on Tuesday.

Paying tribute to the 19-year-old at the SCDF headquarters' parade square in Ubi, SCDF's Commissioner Eric Yap said that the youth will be remembered for his "selflessness, professionalism and commitment".

"Let Sergeant Edward be an inspiration to all of us in the SCDF," he said.

At 8am, fire call alarms — used to activate fire station crews to respond to emergencies —were broadcast across SCDF's headquarters, 23 fire stations, division headquarters and at the Civil Defence Academy.

This symbolised the "last call" for Go, and a minute of silence was also observed, SCDF said in a statement on Tuesday.

In a previous statement, SCDF had said that Go was its first serviceman to have died during an operation.

He was part of the first-response crew to a fire incident at Block 91 Henderson Road at around 11.10am last Thursday. During the firefighting operation, he fell unconscious in the kitchen area of a flat.

Offering the force's deepest condolences to Go's family, loved ones and friends, Commissioner Yap added that the serviceman's death "hit us in the SCDF hard".

"No words can adequately describe the sense of loss.

"We will remember Sergeant Edward’s selflessness, professionalism and commitment. For those of us who knew him personally, they will remember how proud he was to be a firefighter."

Calling for Go to be an inspiration to the SCDF, Commissioner Yap said that the force has an "indispensable responsibility" in keeping Singapore safe.

"The public whom we serve depends on us, as they did Sergeant Edward, to help them in emergency situations, which can often be a matter of life and death.

"Every day, our regulars, full-time national servicemen, operationally ready national servicemen, as well as civil defence auxiliary unit volunteers, come together to carry out this noble mission. SCDF officers put our lives on the line whenever we enter a fire, in order to save others.

"But still, we will always give of our utmost each time we respond to a call for help," he added.

Commissioner Yap called for the SCDF to continue serving Singaporeans with pride and dedication "as Sergeant Edward did" to honour his memory.

Blinkers and sirens of two light fire attack vehicles from the SCDF headquarters and emergency vehicles across all fire stations were turned on for 15 seconds after the tribute.