Fire at Hong Lim Food Centre halts lunch trade and damages multiple stalls

A fire broke out at Hong Lim Food Centre and Market on 2 January 2026, disrupting lunch operations on the first business day of the year and leaving several hawker stalls damaged.

According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), it was alerted to the blaze at approximately 12.40pm. The fire involved kitchen exhaust ducting on the second floor of the food centre located at 531A Upper Cross Street.

Firefighters extinguished the flames using three water jets and evacuated four individuals from the block as a precaution. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to SCDF statements cited by The Straits Times.

Thick smoke was observed billowing from the building, as shown in a photo posted on Reddit at the time of the fire.

Video footage shared on Facebook also showed multiple fire engines at the scene and heavy smoke emanating from the premises.

When The Straits Times arrived at the scene at about 1.35pm, at least three fire engines were present, and the police had cordoned off the main dining area on the second floor.

The fire originated at the Ho Kee Seafood stall, operated by 80-year-old hawker Teo Koon Guan. According to CNA, Teo was outside his stall when he was alerted to the fire by another hawker. The stove had a hot wok containing oil at the time, although the flame was reportedly off.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Teo said he did not realise the fire had started until another stall owner informed him. He returned to his stall after the fire was extinguished to assess the damage and expressed a strong desire to reopen as soon as possible.

“I’m worried, but there’s nothing I can do. I want to reopen as soon as possible. If I can reopen tomorrow, I will,” he said.

Western food stall operator Eddy Wan, whose stall is located opposite Teo’s, was among the first to respond. “I just dropped everything and ran to help,” Wan told The Straits Times. He initially tried using water to douse the flames but was unsuccessful due to the fire’s intensity. Spotting Teo still inside the stall, apparently in shock, Wan pulled him to safety.

“He was just standing there near his wok. It was like he was in shock. I quickly dragged him out because the fire looked like it was going to reignite,” Wan added.

Teo's daughter, Kelly Teo, told both CNA and The Straits Times that she rushed down with her mother upon hearing about the fire. “I was worried that he’d be injured. I am glad he’s okay,” she said. Following the incident, she expressed concerns about her father continuing to man the stall alone due to his age.

The fire did not only impact Ho Kee Seafood and its immediate neighbours. According to CNA, stalls located in adjacent aisles suffered water damage after the sprinkler system was activated. Burn marks were visible on the ventilation system extending beyond the original site of the fire.

Sax Peter Choa and Evelyn Tan, who operate the prata stall Midas Every Touch is Gold one aisle away, reported that their equipment was damaged and ingredients for lunch had to be discarded.

“Our signboard is waterlogged and no longer works,” said Choa. “Other equipment like our portable lights are also down. I’m not sure when we can realistically resume operations.”

According to hawker association vice-chairman Heng Check Kwang, five stalls in the affected row, including Teo's, must remain closed until electrical circuit inspections are complete. The inspection process may take over a week, with stall reopenings expected between 10 and 12 January. Heng also confirmed that the affected stallholders would be filing fire insurance claims.

Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who is also a Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC, said in a Facebook post that SCDF and the Building and Construction Authority had carried out thorough inspections to ensure the food centre is safe for continued operations.

“To keep the public safe, (the Jalan Besar) Town Council has barricaded the common walkway where the exhaust system was damaged,” she said. “My team and I are in touch with the hawker association to check in with the affected stallholders and see how best to support them.”

Despite the disruption, some stalls remained open for business, and patrons continued to visit. However, the cordoned-off section was larger than expected, according to those who spoke to the media.