PUBLISHED ONNovember 07, 2025 8:33 AMUPDATEDNovember 07, 2025 12:40 PMBYSean LerTwo children were taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a second-floor Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat on Friday (Nov 7) afternoon.
The incident took place at about 1.20pm at Block 128 Yishun Street 11.
In a Facebook post on Nov 7, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that the fire started in the bedroom.
"Upon arrival, a bedroom in a second-floor unit was on fire. Firefighters entered the smoke-filled unit and extinguished the fire with a water jet," SCDF said.
Three occupants from the affected unit had evacuated before SCDF's arrival.
Police and SCDF also evacuated 50 residents from the affected block as a precautionary measure.
Two people from the affected unit were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
AsiaOne understands that there are seven occupiers of the affected unit.
At the time of the incident, only a woman and two of her youngest children were at home. The woman's husband was away when the fire broke out.
A photo showing the aftermath of the incident shared by SCDF shows a badly charred bedroom with the ceiling's bare concrete showing.
Another photo shared with AsiaOne after the fire was extinguished shows the living room with its furniture largely intact, which suggests that the area may have escaped serious damages.
Jowyn Tan, 42, who lives two units away from the affected flat, had just finished lunch when the woman approached her for help.
"I was sitting down when I heard my neighbour trying to call for help, screaming for help. When she came to my doorway, she asked me to help call 995," said Tan, a claims executive.
According to Tan, fellow neighbours also came forward to help and she passed to one of them her fire extinguisher.
Despite having to evacuate a wheelchair-bound elderly from her own home, Tan said she chose to help because they are all neighbours.
"When we see each other, we will say hello and chit-chat. We are not 'distant neighbours'.
At about 4.30pm, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam was seen arriving at the scene.
Shanmugam, who is also the member of parliament for the Chong Pang division of Nee Soon GRC, spoke to the occupiers of the affected unit shortly after he arrived.
He was then briefed by SCDF firefighters at the ground floor before entering the unit.
Speaking to the media after he visited the affected unit, Shanmugam said that while the bedroom where the fire started was "very badly damaged", the other rooms were "not so badly damaged" as the SCDF had arrived at the scene within seven minutes of activation.
The fire was subsequently put out within 10 minutes.
Shanmugam also asked for the family to be given some privacy as they are still in a state of shock, adding that temporary accommodation and assistance have been arranged.
"We have found them temporary accommodation in another block. Two of the children are in hospital, under observation. Not because they are injured, but under observation.
"They will have a unit by tonight... we spoke with HDB, and HDB has given a unit quickly," said Shanmugam.
The Chong Pang grassroots will also continue to be in touch with the occupiers and provide assistance "as necessary".
This is the second such incident to have occurred this week in Yishun. On Nov 5, a fire had broken out at Block 475B, Yishun Street 44 at about 2.25am. The cause of the blaze was found to be linked to a personal mobility device.
SCDF reminded the public not to leave lighted materials such as cigarettes and candles unattended.
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