Eight residents and two firefighters sent to hospital as entire Joo Seng block evacuated overnight.
An 18th-floor Housing Board unit in Potong Pasir was gutted by fire on May 4, sending residents fleeing and landing eight people and two firefighters in hospital, with police investigating the blaze as suspected arson.
Night Fire On The 18th Floor
At about 9.40 pm on May 4, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were alerted to a fire at Block 14 Joo Seng Road in Potong Pasir. When firefighters arrived, flames were “raging” inside an 18th-floor unit and had engulfed the entire flat. SCDF deployed two water jets to extinguish the blaze, while three occupants evacuated before responders reached the scene.
Residents And Firefighters Taken To Hospital
Eight people were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital, along with two firefighters who felt unwell during operations and were conveyed as a precaution. Police later said the incident caused significant property damage to surrounding units. SCDF reported on May 5 that the two firefighters had been discharged, while affected residents were being supported on-site and through temporary housing arrangements.
Arrest For Suspected Mischief By Fire
Police arrested a 44-year-old man at the scene for mischief by fire. Preliminary findings from SCDF indicate the fire may have been intentionally started. The man is expected to be charged on May 6 with mischief by fire with intent to destroy a house, an offence that carries up to 10 years’ jail and a fine if convicted. Investigations into the circumstances and motive are ongoing.
Block Evacuated And Structural Checks Conducted
Potong Pasir MP Alex Yeo said in a Facebook post that SCDF evacuated the entire block for safety while the fire was being fought and its aftermath assessed. He thanked HDB engineers for checking the building for structural issues and arranging temporary lodging for affected residents, and praised grassroots volunteers and People’s Association staff who stayed into the early hours to care for evacuees until it was safe to return.
Rising Residential Fire Numbers In Recent Years
The incident comes against a backdrop of gradually rising fire statistics. SCDF’s annual report released in February showed total fires increasing 3 per cent from 1,990 in 2024 to 2,050 in 2025, with 1,051 incidents occurring in residential buildings. Fire-related injuries also rose from 80 to 94 over the same period. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the Potong Pasir blaze highlights both the importance of quick evacuation and the role of enforcement when fires are suspected to be deliberately set in dense public housing estates.
The Potong Pasir HDB fire, which left an entire unit destroyed and ten people in hospital, underscores the dangers of high-rise blazes and the severe legal consequences when arson is suspected. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, it is a reminder that close cooperation between residents, first responders and housing authorities is critical to limit casualties and damage, especially as residential fire numbers edge higher.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Star (2026)
Keywords: Block 14 Joo Seng Road, Mischief By Fire Charge, Smoke Inhalation Cases, Alex Yeo MP, SCDF Fire Statistics, Residential Fire Injuries
