Fire Breaks Out at hong Lim Market and Food Centre, prompting Evacuations
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A lunchtime fire at Hong Lim Market and Food Centre on January 2nd led to the evacuation of four individuals, tho thankfully, no injuries were reported.The Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) responded to the incident, which originated in the kitchen exhaust ducting on the second floor of the popular hawker centre.
Swift Response from Emergency Services
The SCDF was alerted to the blaze at 12:40 PM, swiftly deploying resources to the scene.Firefighters extinguished the flames using three water jets, containing the incident to the exhaust system. according to the SCDF, the fire did not result in any reported injuries.
Eyewitness Accounts Detail Chaotic Scene
The incident unfolded during the peak lunchtime rush, creating a scene of immediate commotion. A witness working at a nearby prata stall recounted hearing a disturbance around 12:30 PM, describing “a lot of black smoke in the air and people were running out.” Another stallholder, running a western food stall, observed flames erupting from a seafood stall opposite his location.
“I looked up and saw the seafood stall opposite mine in flames,” he stated. “I just dropped everything and ran to help.” He further described finding the 80-year-old owner of the affected seafood stall disoriented inside, ultimately assisting in his evacuation as the fire threatened to reignite.
Social media provided additional glimpses into the unfolding events. A photograph shared on Reddit by user Mnqy, taken around 12:40 PM, depicted thick smoke billowing from the building. The user also noted seeing individuals fleeing the centre with food still in hand. Footage posted on Facebook by user Jess Woo at approximately 12:50 PM showed a line of fire engines responding to the scene, with numerous people gathered outside.
Police Investigation and Stallholder Concerns
upon arrival at 1:35 PM, The Straits Times reported at least three fire engines were present, and police had cordoned off the main dining area on the second floor. One fishball noodle stallholder, expressing concern for his livelihood, noted his stall appeared “charred” but was relieved no one was hurt.
Adding a surreal element to the evacuation, one witness, Madam Yuri Teng, observed an individual continuing to eat her char kway teow even as the sprinklers activated. “So many people, including myself, were telling the auntie to evacuate, but she just ignored all of us,” she said.
Cause Under Investigation
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities have stated they are gathering data to determine the origin and contributing factors of the incident. The SCDF and police are continuing to assess the damage and ensure the safety of the public.
Why did it happen? The fire originated in the kitchen exhaust ducting of the Hong Lim Market and Food Centre. Who was involved? The SCDF, police, stallholders, and patrons of the food centre were all involved. What occurred? A fire broke out during lunchtime, prompting a swift response from emergency services and the evacuation of four people. How did it end? Firefighters extinguished the flames, containing the fire to the exhaust system, and no injuries were reported. The cause is currently under investigation.
