Police say loud explosions alarmed residents after multiple fireworks were discharged in a residential area
Three people have been arrested after an illegal fireworks display in Ghim Moh triggered police action and alarmed residents, in a case that has renewed attention on the safety risks of unauthorized fireworks in dense housing estates. Police said the suspects are two men aged 25 and 33, and a 16-year-old boy.
Three suspects arrested after Ghim Moh incident
The police said they were alerted at about 11.15pm on March 20 to the unlawful discharge of fireworks at a multi-storey car park at Block 16A Ghim Moh Road. After ground inquiries, officers identified and arrested the three suspects on March 22 and March 23.
Preliminary investigations found that the trio had allegedly discharged multiple fireworks in the area, causing loud explosions that alarmed nearby residents. Police said investigations are ongoing.
Videos showed fireworks in a residential estate
Footage circulating on social media showed multiple bursts of fireworks going off against the backdrop of HDB blocks in Ghim Moh. Some clips also captured cheering during the display, suggesting the act drew attention from people nearby.
The images quickly sparked public concern because the fireworks appeared to have been set off from a residential area rather than at an authorized event site. In a dense housing estate, that raised obvious questions about fire risk and public safety.
SCDF was alerted to a small fire
The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it was alerted to a fire involving sparklers linked to the incident. By the time officers arrived, the fire had already burnt itself out. No injuries were reported.
That detail is important because it shows the incident was not only noisy and disruptive, but also carried a real risk of ignition. In a built-up neighborhood with parked vehicles and nearby flats, even a small fire could have become more serious.
Illegal fireworks carry heavy penalties
Singapore police reminded the public that discharging fireworks without proper authorization is illegal. Individuals found guilty of the unauthorized use of explosives may face up to 36 months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$50,000, or both.
Authorities also stressed that illegal fireworks pose serious safety risks not only to the people handling them, but to the wider community. That warning is especially relevant in residential settings, where any mistake can affect many households at once.
Why the case matters
The Ghim Moh case shows how quickly an act that some may view as celebratory can become a law-and-order issue in Singapore. In tightly packed urban neighborhoods, fireworks are not treated as harmless fun when they are discharged without controls, permits, or safety buffers.
For Singaporeans, the arrests reinforce the state’s low tolerance for unauthorized explosive use in public housing areas. For regional readers, including in Indonesia, the case is a reminder that behavior seen as festive elsewhere can carry serious criminal consequences in Singapore when it endangers residents or public property.
The arrests over the Ghim Moh fireworks display underline Singapore’s strict approach to public safety in residential estates. Even when no one is hurt, authorities are treating unauthorized fireworks seriously because the risks are immediate, visible, and potentially dangerous.
Sources: CNA (2026) , Straits Times (2026)
Keywords: Ghim Moh fireworks, illegal fireworks Singapore, Block 16A Ghim Moh Road, Singapore fireworks arrests, SCDF sparklers fire, unauthorized explosives
