While Singapore’s firefighters are always quick to spring into action, they may get hurt sometimes while putting their lives on the line.
A firefighter from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was injured while putting out an industrial fire in Woodlands on Saturday (17 Sep).
Source: SCDF on Facebook
Thankfully, he is now recuperating at home after being discharged from the hospital.
The SCDF first alerted the public to the fire in a Facebook post on Saturday (17 Sep) morning.
Source: SCDF on Facebook
As the situation was developing, the post was short, saying only that the location was No. 66 Woodlands Industrial Park and SCDF was conducting firefighting operations at the scene.
In a subsequent post, the SCDF said they were alerted to the fire in the warehouse at about 8.40am.
Source: SCDF on Facebook
The blaze involved a number of piles of waste material. The collective area affected measured about 100m by 100m, or about 10,000 square metres — eight Olympic-sized swimming pools.
While the piles of waste material were of various heights, the highest one was 8m tall — four to five human beings of average height.
Source: SCDF on Facebook
During the operation, their firefighters endured intense heat and thick black smoke, the SCDF said.
Nevertheless, they made quick work of the fire, getting it under control in one hour plus, by 10am.
They used two foam jets, two water jets and an Unmanned Firefighting Machine (UFM), deploying 10 emergency vehicles and about 70 firefighters.
Source: SCDF on Facebook
Unfortunately, one SCDF firefighter injured his arm during the process, they said in their final post on the incident.
Source: SCDF on Facebook
He was assessed by a paramedic on the scene, and sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
Thankfully, no other injuries were reported as about 25 workers self-evacuated before the SCDF arrived.
About 90 more people were evacuated from premises neighbouring the warehouse as a safety precaution.
While the fire was finally extinguished in three hours, there was more damping down work to be done, said the SCDF.
That means water was applied to the burnt surfaces to prevent the fire from rekindling.
This involved firefighters from the Special Response Unit (SRU).
Source: SCDF on Facebook
Two excavators were also used to remove layers of debris.
Source: SCDF on Facebook
The cause of the fire is under investigation, though it’s safe to say that the enormous piles of waste material didn’t help.
Source: SCDF on Facebook
As for the injured firefighter, the SCDF made a special post in the late afternoon to give an update on his condition.
Source: SCDF on Facebook
Happily, they shared that he’s been discharged from the hospital and is recuperating at home.
They thanked the public for their well wishes and support for the injured firefighter, noting that SCDF Emergency Responders like him brave “countless challenges” daily to fulfil their duty of saving lives and property.
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Featured image adapted from SCDF on Facebook and Facebook.
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