Blaze guts warehouse, firefighting foam drifts to nearby canal

SINGAPORE: Fire gutted a warehouse at Upper Bukit Timah Road on Monday night.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted about the fire at about 8.50pm.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, the blaze had engulfed three quarters of the single—storey warehouse, which was approximately the size of a football field.

The warehouse was stacked with wood, metal and food products — as high as six metres — causing the place to be smoke—logged and making it difficult for firefighters to get to the affected areas.

At the height of the fire, the SCDF used seven water jets to contain the fire.

The fire was brought under control within two hours.

One firefighter was sent to the National University Hospital for heat exhaustion.

The SCDF is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Residual foam used to fight the fire made its way to the Choa Chu Kang canal and park in the neighbourhood.

National water agency PUB is cleaning up the area.

Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency, Mr Alex Yam, assured residents that the foam is non—toxic and is bio—degradable.

He advised residents to be careful along the roads beside the canal as the light foam can drift onto the footpaths and roads.

He said the canal sluice prevented the foam from entering the Pang Sua River, which is at the northern tip of Yew Tee.

— CNA/xq