SINGAPORE \u2013 A fire broke out at Hong Lim Market and Food Centre during lunch time on Jan 2. <\/p>\n
In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire at 12.40pm. Four people were evacuated from the affected block.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fire involved the kitchen exhaust ducting on the second floor of the affected block,\u201d said SCDF, adding that firefighters extinguished the fire using three water jets.<\/p>\n
There were no reported injuries, SCDF said. <\/p>\n
A photograph posted on Reddit by user Mnqy shows thick smoke billowing from the building in Upper Cross Street. In the caption, the user said the photo was taken at around 12.40pm. <\/p>\n
The user also noted that \u201cat least two people ran down the stairs\u201d of the hawker centre with bowls of food in their hands. <\/p>\n
Footage posted on Facebook by user Jess Woo at around 12.50pm shows a row of fire engines parked next to the building that is engulfed in thick smoke, while several people were seen standing outside the building.<\/p>\n Facebook user Jess Woo posted a footage of fire engines parked next to the building that is engulfed in thick smoke at around 12.50pm.<\/p>\n PHOTO: JESS WOO\/FACEBOOK<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n When ST arrived at the two-storey hawker centre at 1.35pm, at least three fire engines were at the scene. Police cordon were placed around the main dining area on the second floor. <\/p>\n An employee at a prata stall opposite the hawker centre, who wanted to be known only as Mr Athi, 23, said he heard a commotion at the hawker centre at around 12.30pm. <\/p>\n \u201cThere was a lot of black smoke in the air and people were running out. I wanted to call SCDF but realised that they were already at the scene. I quickly took videos of what happened. It was a big fire.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Eddy Wan, who runs a western food stall, said he was busy serving customers he smelled smoke.<\/p>\n \u201cI looked up and saw the seafood stall opposite mine in flames,\u201d said the 46-year-old. <\/p>\n \u201cI just dropped everything and ran to help. I wanted to take some water to try to put the flames out but the fire was too big.\u201d<\/p>\n SCDF officers speaking to the owner of the seafood stall affected by the fire.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n After another person used a fire extinguisher to put out some of the fire, Mr Wan saw the 80-year-old owner of the seafood stall still inside the stall, where the fire is believed to have originated.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was just standing there near his wok. It was like he was in shock. I quickly dragged him out, because the fire looked like it was going to reignite.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was worried for him. I didn\u2019t know what else I could do, but it\u2019s only human to help.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Wan said he did not suffer any injuries, and urged others to evacuate too.<\/p>\n Mr Gerald Tang, who sells fishball noodles several stalls away from the seafood stall, told ST: \u201cIt happened very quickly. I was serving customers and the next thing I knew everyone was evacuating.\u201d<\/p>\n Pointing to his stall from behind a police cordon, the 46-year-old said: \u201cI\u2019m worried about my stall. I haven\u2019t gone to see it yet. It looks charred, but at least no one is injured.\u201d<\/p>\n Police officers on the second floor of Hong Lim Market and Food Centre.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Madam Yuri Teng, 38, who runs a stall selling Japanese food, said while she was evacuating, she saw \u201can auntie still eating\u201d despite the fire.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t even have time to take any money or important documents,\u201d said the 38-year-old who added that her first thought was to evacuate when she realised a fire had broken out.<\/p>\n \u201cSo many people, including myself, were telling the auntie to evacuate, but she just ignored all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe only left when the sprinklers were activated, and she took her plate of char kway teow with her,\u201d Madam Teng said.<\/p>\n The cause of the fire is under investigation.<\/p>\n ST has contacted the police for more information. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/picture><\/div>
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