One taken to hospital after second-floor unit catches fire; SCDF urges safer charging habits.

A fire in a Simei HDB flat damaged an entire living room and sent one neighbour to hospital for smoke inhalation, with early findings pointing to a power bank left charging in the unit.

Fire Incident And Response
The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it was alerted at about 4.40pm on May 8 to a fire at Block 153 Simei Street 1; firefighters arrived to find the living room of a second-floor unit ablaze and extinguished it with a water jet.

Evacuations And Casualty
Three occupants had evacuated from the affected flat before SCDF arrived, while about 10 other residents from the block were evacuated by police and SCDF as a precaution; one person from a neighbouring unit was assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital.

Damage To The Flat And Pets Rescued
SCDF reported that the entire living room was destroyed, with heat and smoke damage affecting the rest of the flat; East Coast GRC MP Jessica Tan said in a Facebook post that several pets, including six cats, a dog and a rabbit, were also brought to safety that night.

Likely Cause And Safety Reminder
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire likely started from a power bank charging in the living room, prompting SCDF to remind the public not to leave batteries or devices charging unattended for long periods or overnight to reduce fire risk.

Recent Fire Trends In Homes
The Simei incident came just days after an 18th-floor HDB fire in Joo Seng Road on May 4 that sent eight people to hospital; SCDF’s annual report showed 2,050 fires in Singapore in 2025, up 3 per cent from 2024, with residential buildings accounting for more than half of all cases.

The Simei flat blaze underlines how everyday items like power banks can trigger dangerous home fires when left charging unsupervised. Indonesians and Singaporeans who live in dense high-rise estates share the same imperative: treat batteries with care, follow fire safety advice and stay alert to reduce the growing toll of residential fires and smoke-related injuries.

Sources: Asia One (2026) Must Share News (2026)

Keywords: Simei Street 1 Fire, Power Bank Blaze, Smoke Inhalation, SCDF Statistics, Home Fire Prevention