A tenant continues living in a charred apartment, highlighting the struggles of low-income residents in Singapore.
A fire on Dec 11 at Block 463, Crawford Lane, left a rented HDB flat severely damaged, but one of its tenants, Chen, continues to reside in the unit. Financial hardship has left her unable to afford alternative accommodations, such as a hotel stay.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to the late-night fire, which originated from a Power Assisted Bicycle battery pack left charging in the living room. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, and no injuries were reported. However, about 35 residents from the block had to evacuate as black smoke poured from the 15th-floor unit.
When reporters visited the flat the next morning, repairs were already underway. Despite the significant damage, Chen, a tenant who arrived from China two weeks ago to work as a nightclub singer, had returned to the room she shares with a roommate.
“I don’t have many friends in Singapore, and I cannot afford to book a hotel stay,” Chen explained. She came home from work at 3 am on Dec 12, only to find the apartment charred and without water or electricity.
Fire Safety Concerns
The SCDF’s investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a battery pack charging unattended. The agency reminded the public to avoid charging personal mobility devices (PMDs) or bicycle batteries overnight and to use only original batteries to reduce fire risk.
Chen’s predicament highlights the vulnerability of low-income tenants in Singapore and the challenges they face in securing safe, temporary housing during emergencies.
