The SCDF says that it has done a follow up with the Town Council following a report made by Dr Chee Soon Juan with regards to the residents’ feedback that the fire hose reel on the floor was not working during the time a fire broke out at Bukit Batok on 1 November 2019.
The SCDF told Dr Chee that fire safety measures and the maintenance of equipment is the responsibility of town councils. He assured Dr Chee in a telephone call that the SCDF will take action against the relevant bodies if breaches of safety codes have been committed.
The Bukit Batok estate is managed by the Jurong Town Council.
Below is the correspondence between the SCDF and Dr Chee.
5 November 2019
Dear Dr Chee,
We refer to your feedback on 3 Nov 2019.
Thank you for highlighting this matter to us.
Following the incident on 1 Nov 2019, SCDF officers have done a follow up with the Town Council.
Town Councils are responsible for the maintenance of their estate’s fire safety measures and ensuring that they are functioning and well-maintained.
SCDF officers will be inspecting the premises to ensure the Town Council’s compliance with the fire safety requirement. Enforcement action will be taken in the event of non-compliance.
Yours sincerely,
Wee Chai Meng
SSO Service Excellence
Service Excellence Department
Singapore Civil Defence Force
5 November 2019
Dear Mr Wee,
Thank you for your reply. I am also following up on our telephone conversation a few minutes ago.
I am glad to hear that the SCDF is looking into the matter with the Town Council responsible and your assurance that action will be taken against the relevant bodies if maintenance and inspection standards are found to have been breached.
Such breaches, as you will agree, are serious violations of fire safety codes and have grave consequences. As it is, the three persons who were rescued from the fire were all hospitalised for burn injuries and smoke inhalation.
I await your report on the investigation of the matter. Thank you.
Chee Soon Juan
Secretary-General
Singapore Democratic Party