Top Three Causes of Fire Incidents in HDB Flats from 2020 to 2024 Which Resulted in Deaths or Injuries

Question:

Mr Shawn Loh: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs in relation to fire incidents in HDB flats occurring from 2020 to 2024, (a) what were the top three causes of such fire incidents which resulted in deaths or injuries; and (b) how many and what proportion of such fire incidents resulted in deaths and injuries of persons outside of the flat where the fire originated.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. Between 2020 and 2024, the top three causes of fires in HDB flats which resulted in deaths or injuries were unattended cooking, electrical faults, and unattended lighted materials (e.g. candles, incense or cigarettes).

2. The Singapore Civil Defence Force does not track the number of deaths and injuries by whether the deaths and injuries occurred inside or outside of the flat where the fire originated.