One Dead, One Hospitalized After Fire in Choa Chu Kang HDB Flat
SINGAPORE – A 33-year-old man died and a 61-year-old woman was taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a Housing Board flat in Choa Chu Kang in the early hours of Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Details of the Incident
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to a fire at Block 763 Choa Chu Kang North 5 at approximately 3:00 AM. The fire occurred in a bedroom of a unit on the 14th floor. SCDF extinguished the blaze using two water jets.
Upon arrival, firefighters found a 33-year-old man lying motionless inside the flat. An SCDF paramedic pronounced him dead at the scene. A 61-year-old woman, who had already evacuated the unit, was assessed for smoke inhalation and transported to Singapore General Hospital for treatment.
Two other residents from the affected block were evaluated for smoke inhalation but declined hospitalization. Approximately 70 people were evacuated as a precautionary measure by the police and SCDF.
Witness Accounts
Residents reported hearing shouts and commotion in the early morning hours. Madam Sophia Lee, a resident on the 13th floor, stated that police alerted her family to evacuate. She and her family initially believed the fire was on the 15th floor. She described the family residing in the affected unit as a polite Chinese family comprised of a mother, son, and daughter.
Another resident, Jaiasree Pillai, on the 12th floor, reported hearing shouts and seeing smoke and flashing lights from emergency vehicles. Madam Soo Kam Lan, also on the 12th floor, learned of the fire from her son who was returning from a night shift.
Rising Residential Fires
Recent data released by the SCDF in February 2026 indicates an 8.6% increase in residential fires, rising from 968 cases in 2025 to 1,051 cases. Unattended cooking and electrical faults are identified as the primary causes of these fires.
Ongoing Investigation
Police investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the fire.
Sources: The Straits Times, Mothership, CNA, AsiaOne