One person dead, two firefighters injured in Clementi flat fire

SINGAPORE: A person died while two Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) firefighters suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out in a Clementi flat on Friday (Jul 31) night.

SCDF said in a Facebook post that they were alerted to a fire at Block 309, Clementi Ave 4 at about 11.10pm. 

Upon arrival, firefighters found the living room of an eighth-floor unit engulfed in flames.

Firefighters had to force their way into the unit and two water jets were deployed to extinguish the blaze, which involved items in the living room.

During the operation, firefighters found a person trapped in the kitchen. 

SCDF said the person was rescued from the flat and taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Sim Ann later confirmed in separate Facebook posts that the person had died.

"We are all deeply saddened by the fatality," she said. "We will be assisting residents whose homes and personal property sustained some damage last night. 

"We have also started repairs to common property. Despite the intensity of the fire, overall damage to other units and common areas was limited, and most households we spoke to are able to remain at home after doing some clean-up."

Two firefighters suffered burn injuries during the operation and were transported to Singapore General Hospital.

As a precaution, about 40 residents from the affected block were evacuated by police and SCDF officers.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

One of the firefighters has been discharged from hospital and is resting at home, SCDF said in an update.