In a shocking turn of events, a 58-year-old man was apprehended following a fierce blaze that erupted at an HDB block on Chai Chee Avenue late September 5. The fire led to four individuals being rushed to the hospital and an emergency evacuation of around 50 residents.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received alerts about the fire at Block 31 Chai Chee Avenue around 11:05 PM. Upon arrival, they found the living room of an eighth-floor apartment engulfed in flames.

Thanks to the rapid response from SCDF, the fire was quickly extinguished using a water jet, and fortunately, no one was inside the unit at the time of the incident.

As the situation unfolded, police revealed that the arrested man faces charges for allegedly "causing or contributing to the risk of a dangerous fire." Among the hospitalized were four men aged between 20 and 78, all of whom were reported to be conscious.

In addition, three residents from nearby flats were evaluated for smoke inhalation, with two taken to Changi General Hospital and one to Singapore General Hospital. A firefighter also required treatment for smoke inhalation.

In a precautionary move, approximately 50 residents were evacuated by police and SCDF due to the potential dangers posed by the fire. Meanwhile, investigations into the fire's cause are currently underway.

Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Edwin Tong, visited the site the following day. He expressed his intentions to check on the residents, thank the volunteers and officers involved, and discuss the necessary steps moving forward.

Tong confirmed that affected residents have been provided temporary accommodation and stated that the East Coast Town Council team is collaborating with HDB officials to promptly restore power and rehabilitate the common areas.

East Coast GRC MP Tan Kiat How praised the SCDF, East Coast Town Council, and grassroots volunteers for their unwavering support, highlighting the establishment of a Residents’ Network center for seniors to relax and offering refreshments to evacuees.

He also noted that the Town Council team is actively working to restore essential services to affected units and clean common spaces, with plans to repaint the building’s exterior.

In a display of community spirit, temporary housing has been arranged for those whose apartments suffered significant damage, showcasing the collective effort to restore normalcy in the aftermath of this alarming incident.