Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Number of Fire Incidents Where Residents Used the Fire Extinguishers Installed at HDB Lift Lobbies

Question:

Ms Hany Soh: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs since SCDF commenced its trial to install one fire extinguisher at the lift lobby of every two HDB blocks in September 2022 (a) in how many fire incidents have residents since used these fire extinguishers; and (b) whether SCDF is studying how to further improve community fire safety and response.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1.  SCDF’s trial to install one fire extinguisher at the lift lobby of every two HDB blocks will commence later this year. Implementation will take place progressively over the next five years. As part of this trial, we are also targeting to have more than 80,000 residents trained to use fire extinguishers.

2. This initiative is part of SCDF’s continual efforts to improve fire safety. Greater awareness and public education are key to this. SCDF has been educating residents on the use of fire extinguishers through public engagement programmes such as the Community Emergency Preparedness Programme, and Community Resilience Days. At these platforms, SCDF encourages the voluntary installation of fire extinguishers in homes and shares information on where hose reels can be found in common areas.

3. Members of the public can access the SCDF website or download the latest edition of the Civil Defence Emergency Handbook to get fire safety tips and information on what to do when a fire breaks out. SCDF will continue to engage and work with the community to further improve fire safety and response.