Common Causes of Fire Along HDB Corridors and Proportion of HDB Flats with Home Fire Alarm Device Installed

Mr Speaker, Sir, the common causes of fire along HDB common corridors are of electrical origin, which includes fires involving personal mobility devices and personal mobility aids, arising from naked light such as candle flame and flame from lighters, and the indiscriminate disposal of lighted materials such as cigarette butts.

Since June 2018, all new residential units and existing units that are undergoing fire safety works, such as renovation works involving a fire-rated door, are required under the Fire Code to install Home Fire Alarm Devices (HFADs) within the units. For residential units built before June 2018 and which have not undergone fire safety works since June 2018, the installation of HFADs is voluntary. We do not have data on the percentage of HDB flats built before June 2018 which have HFADs installed.

Members of the public can access the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)'s website for useful information on fire safety and to download the recently revised edition of the Civil Defence Emergency Handbook. These materials contain information on HFADs, including a list of HFAD suppliers, in the four official languages. SCDF has also been working with the National Fire and Emergency Preparedness Council and HDB to educate new homeowners on fire safety and emergency preparedness through the digital MyNiceHome Roadshows.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. Can I find out the statistics for the number of common corridor fires in HDB flats in 2021? And two, how is MHA and SCDF working with agencies such as the Town Councils to prevent fires in common corridors of HDB flats, as this is a common concern amongst HDB flat dwellers?

Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. In 2021, there were 122 fires that occurred at HDB common corridors and passageways. If you look at the breakdown of the top three causes of fires: (a) we had 43 fires due to electrical origins, for example, fires involving PMD and electrical risers; (b) we had 42 fires due to naked light, for example, candle flame, flame from lighters; (c) we had 32 fires due to indiscriminate disposal of lighted materials, for example, cigarette butts; and (d) we had five fires due to other causes.

The number of fires at HDB common corridors and passageways has been decreasing over the years.

With regard to how we work with the agencies, we have been working with HDB, Town Councils, MCSTs and many other stakeholders to educate and raise the awareness of how we can play our part in minimising or responding to fires. What we used to do was, if you remember, we had the Emergency Preparedness Day, prior to COVID-19. When the COVID-19 situation stablises, we will launch the Community Resilience Day. It would be  roadshows in the heartlands where we will teach residents emergency preparedness and fire safety skills.

The Member can also find more details on the SCDF website.