Changes proposed to order closure of up to 72 hours for repeat fire safety breaches

Owners or occupiers may be ordered to shut down their premises for up to 72 hours, if they keep flouting fire safety rules. 

This is a key change proposed to the Fire Safety Act. 

The Bill was tabled for its first reading in Parliament on Monday.

It'll give the Civil Defence Commissioner the power to issue a Closure Order to repeat offenders, as well as those with a poor track record. 

Also proposed are tougher penalties for offences such as failure to supervise fire safety works, as well as failure to comply with demolition orders and closure orders. 

The proposed stiffer penalties aim to bring them in line with the penalties for similar offences under the Building Control Act. 

Firefighters from the Singapore Civil Defence Force can also board vessels to conduct firefighting and rescue operations, after such functions were transferred from the Maritime Port Authority to the Singapore Civil Defence Force on April 1 last year.