Over the last two days, the SCDF was activated to two bush fire incidents in a forested area along Bukit Batok West Avenue 3. The fires broke out atop a hill, which sits on land about the size of five football fields.

The first fire broke out at around 4.45pm on Monday, 16th February 2009. The fire involved two different spots, each the size of about half a basketball court. Some fifty personnel were deployed for fire fighting operations. Fire fighters remained at the scene until 9.35am the following day to ensure all remaining pockets of fire are fully extinguished and new fires created by strong winds atop the hill are extinguished.

At about 1pm yesterday, the SCDF was activated to another bush fire incident in the same forested area. Fire fighters took about 45 minutes to climb a distance of about 100 meters on the steep and thick undergrowth using ladders to gain access to the fire. Fire-fighters found four pockets of bushes and foliage on fire, each about the size of two basketball courts. The fire was located 40 meters diagonally to the lower right of the previous fire.

Strong wind conditions were encountered at the site, which fanned the fires and caused embers to reignite. Thick foliage at the scene also hindered the movement of the fire-fighters as they tried to penetrate the area. The fire-fighters had to cut through dense vegetation and the undulating terrain, clambering up a steep slope, which in some parts has an inclination of 70-degrees to a height of between 50m and 60m. A total of four fire engines, three Light Fire Attack Vehicles (LFAV) and five support appliances were dispatched to the scene. 100 fire-fighters were deployed into four sections to surround and contain the fire.

As at 5pm today, the SCDF is currently deploying 60 personnel at the incident site to ensure no rekindling of the fire fanned by the strong wind conditions.

Members of public can help to prevent vegetation fires in an open fields and vacant lands by observing the following:

a. Do not throw lighted materials such as lighted cigarette butts and matches onto grass patches/fields and rubbish dumps;

b. Do not dispose rubbish/discarded materials/items at grass areas/fields/gardens. Rubbish dumps provide sources of fuel to sustain fires;

c. Home owners with grass compounds should keep grass trimmed and watered. Dead leaves should be properly disposed of;

d. Incense papers should be burnt in incense burners such as those provided for by the Town Councils. These burners should be placed on flat open ground at a safe distance from combustible materials and electrical sources (eg. switch room). After the prayer session, one should check around for smouldering incense in the vicinity and ensure that it is completely extinguished.