Six people were transported to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation following a fire at a Sengkang HDB flat on June 12. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) evacuated approximately 120 residents from Block 125 Rivervale Street after being alerted to the blaze at 4.10pm. Firefighters extinguished the fire, which was contained to a bedroom in a third-floor unit, using a water jet.
Did You Know? The SCDF reported that 1,051 of the 2,050 total fires recorded in 2025 occurred within residential buildings, according to annual statistics released in February 2026.
What is the current status of the investigation?
The cause of the Sengkang fire remains under investigation by the SCDF. Officials confirmed that the unit was unoccupied when emergency responders arrived at the scene. Social media footage posted to Xiaohongshu on the day of the incident captured flames emerging from a third-storey window, with smoke reaching as high as the 17th floor.
How does this incident compare to recent fire trends?
This event marks the second significant fire reported in Singapore on June 12. Earlier that day, approximately 80 firefighters and 20 emergency vehicles responded to an industrial warehouse fire in Tuas, which resulted in no reported injuries. These incidents follow a broader trend identified in SCDF annual data, which showed a 3 per cent increase in total fire incidents from 1,990 in 2024 to 2,050 in 2025.
Expert Insight: The high volume of residential fires relative to total incidents suggests that safety protocols in high-density housing remain a critical area of focus for public safety. As investigation teams analyze the remains of the Rivervale Street unit, they will likely evaluate the presence of potential fire hazards that contributed to the smoke spread, which the SCDF noted reached significantly higher levels than the origin point.
What may happen next for the affected residents?
Residents evacuated from the block may face a period of displacement while the SCDF concludes its site investigation and structural safety assessments are performed. A possible next step involves the management of the unit’s restoration, provided the investigation clears the site for re-entry. Depending on the extent of the damage to the third-floor bedroom and surrounding ventilation, authorities may issue specific guidance regarding air quality and structural integrity for neighbors in the affected stack.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people were hospitalized?
Six people were taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation.
Was anyone inside the flat when the fire started?
No, the SCDF stated that the unit was empty when firefighters arrived.
What is the cause of the fire?
The cause is currently under investigation by the SCDF.
How do you ensure your own household is prepared for a fire emergency in a high-rise building?
