SINGAPORE - A fire broke out at a data centre located at 750C Chai Chee Road in the early hours of March 14, leading to one individual being hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the incident around 6 am, and swift action was taken to control the situation.

Explosion Reported as Cause of the Fire

According to an email from SG.GS, the cloud data centre service provider associated with the Singapore Internet Exchange, an "explosion" was reported as the cause of the fire. Immediate measures were taken to investigate the extent of the damage, and SG.GS confirmed that their servers remained operational, albeit the facility would require some time for recovery.

Clarification from SG.GS on the Incident

In an official statement, SG.GS clarified that the fire erupted within a data centre owned by WebSatMedia, where SG.GS leases rack space. Importantly, the crisis was managed without it originating from SG.GS's systems. All staff members were safely evacuated and have since been permitted to re-enter the facility, thanks to effective safety protocols in place.

Fire Suppression and Safety Measures

"The fire was extinguished using the building's fire suppression systems and the local fire brigade's assistance," stated SG.GS Managing Director Shawn Ang. He also noted that the company is working diligently to restore network connectivity for their affected clients.

SCDF's Report on the Fire

The SCDF reported that the fire was primarily centered on a server rack, which was successfully tackled using dry powder fire extinguishers and the activation of the building's sprinkler system.

Historical Context and Expert Advice

While investigations into the fire's cause are ongoing, this incident recalls a significant fire in September 2024 at another data centre in Loyang, which housed vital systems for tech giants like Lazada and Alibaba. That blaze was attributed to lithium-ion batteries and resulted in firefighting efforts over 36 hours, although thankfully there were no injuries reported.

Conclusion and Call to Action

In response to these recurrent incidents, experts are urging data centre operators to reassess their safety protocols and fire prevention measures to safeguard against major disruptions and potential data loss.

As we wait for more information on the Chai Chee fire, one can only wonder: Is your data truly safe in the era of increasing technological risks? Stay tuned for updates!