Four hospitalised after Redhill Close HDB fire; SCDF cites electrical origin

Four people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat in Redhill Close during the early hours of 28 August 2025.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received an alert at about 1.15 am regarding a blaze at Block 68 Redhill Close.

When firefighters arrived, they found the living room of a fourth-floor unit engulfed in flames. SCDF deployed a water jet to extinguish the fire, which was contained to the living room area.

Firefighters rescued three occupants from a bedroom. All were conscious but suffered from smoke inhalation and minor burns. They were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for treatment.

Another individual from a separate unit also reported feeling unwell and was taken to SGH. No other casualties were reported.

Evacuation and firefighting operations

As a precaution, about 50 residents from the affected block were evacuated by the Police while firefighting efforts were ongoing.

SCDF confirmed that the fire was fully extinguished within a short period and that the rest of the flat sustained heat and smoke damage.

Electrical cause suspected

Preliminary investigations suggest that the blaze was electrical in origin.

SCDF has urged residents to take precautions against electrical fires, such as avoiding overloading outlets, switching off appliances when not in use, and checking regularly for frayed wires or cracked cords.

It also advised residents not to run wires under carpets or mats, to use appliances carrying the official Safety Mark, and to avoid leaving devices charging unattended or overnight.

Recent rise in residential fires

The Redhill Close incident adds to a growing number of residential fires reported across Singapore in recent weeks.

On 22 August, three people were hospitalised after a personal mobility device (PMD) sparked a blaze in a flat at Lorong 5 Toa Payoh.

A day earlier, three people were also taken to hospital following a fire in a Bukit Purmei flat.

Earlier this month, two individuals died after being found unconscious in a Jalan Bukit Merah flat, with investigations indicating that a PMD battery pack may have caused the fire.

Another fatal incident on 22 July in Toa Payoh claimed two lives when a man and a woman were discovered unconscious and pronounced dead at the scene.

Rising trend in fire-related deaths

SCDF statistics show that eight people have died in fire-related incidents in 2025 so far.

This represents an increase from five deaths in 2024 and three in 2023, marking the highest toll in three years.

Authorities continue to urge residents to practise fire safety, particularly when using electrical appliances and PMDs, to reduce the risk of similar incidents.