1 child dead, 18 injured after fire breaks out at River Valley Road shophouse

[Raubern]

Kudos to the construction workers and members of the public who  rescued the stranded children and adults before SCDF arrived. Sad that 1 child didn't make it

 

SINGAPORE – One child has died and 18 people have been injured after a fire broke out at a shophouse in River Valley Road on April 8.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a statement on Facebook that it was alerted to a fire at 278 River Valley Road at about 9.45am.

A check by The Straits Times shows that this is the listed address of Tomato Cooking School, which runs cooking lessons and camps for children.

A total of 15 children and four adults were taken to the hospital, SCDF said. ST understands that one child has died.

When SCDF officers arrived at the scene, a fire was raging on the second and third floors of the three-storey shophouse, the statement said.

“Members of the public, including construction workers, used a metal scaffolding and a ladder to reach those stranded and brought a number of them to safety,” SCDF added.

SCDF officers deployed ladders to rescue those stranded on the ledge, while firefighters proceeded to the second and third floors.

The fire was extinguished within 30 minutes using three water jets.

About 80 people from the affected shophouse and nearby premises were evacuated.

In a video posted on Facebook at about 10am, thick black smoke is seen billowing from the windows of the third floor of the building.

A few people wearing high-visibility vests can be seen on a scaffolding reaching out to help those sitting on a ledge below the windows.

In another video, more than 10 people, including some who appear to be children, are seen sitting on the ledge. A few of them are seen being carried down to safety by the men on the scaffolding.

When ST arrived at the scene at around 10.50am, there were several police vehicles, four fire engines and a number of ambulances.

The road was cordoned off by the police, though onlookers had gathered around.

Speaking to ST, witnesses said there were as many as five people still inside the burning unit before SCDF officers entered the premises to rescue them.

Mr Shaik Amirudin, who owns the nearby Flex Fitness studio, said he heard a loud noise before a client who was leaving the studio told him about the smoke. He quickly evacuated the premises with the rest of his clients.

Seeing the children and their teachers on the building ledge, he rushed over to help and held on to the scaffolding as construction workers tried to rescue them.

“The construction workers and first responders sprung into action,” said the 31-year-old.

“It was like a scene out of a war zone,” he added. “There was a woman who appeared dazed, with soot on her face, shouting that there were still five children inside.”

He said that he later saw multiple children, who were motionless, being carried out of the premises by SCDF officers.

Mr Saran, a 33-year-old construction worker, said he and other workers ran over when they saw the smoke.

“I was scared – many children were inside the unit and crying. I saw we had the scaffolding, which was something that could help,” he said, adding that they rescued about 10 children.

Another construction worker, Mr Kannanthasan, 30, said he climbed the scaffolding to rescue the children and teachers, shortly before SCDF officers arrived.

“We would like to thank the members of the public who assisted in the rescue of the stranded persons for their quick actions and bravery,” SCDF said in its Facebook post.

The Straits Times has contacted the police for more information.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/fire-breaks-out-in-river-valley

 

Edited April 8 by Raubern

[Raubern]

Siao liao got high profile involved

 

[Zizou]

Oh dear, looking at thick black smoke, can tell the walls behind the kids are super hot. Hope the rescued ones are ok. 

[Lala81]

Poor kid and his/her parents. Hope the other kids didn't have any smoke injuries. 

[Sosaria]

On 4/8/2025 at 9:17 AM, Raubern said:

Siao liao got high profile involved

 

Aiya.... why come here so far and study, so dangerous too. When back home got so many illustrious institutions like Uptron .

All the more should this politician identify and reward his countrymen who swiftly came to the rescue.

Edited April 8 by Sosaria

[Kopites]

On 4/8/2025 at 4:07 PM, Sosaria said:

Aiya.... why come here so far and study, so dangerous too. When back home got so many illustrious institutions like Uptron .

All the more should this politician identify and reward his countrymen who swiftly came to the rescue.

A life lost is a life too many.

Not to mention a young child life at stake. Hope those rescued and survived won't suffer too serious smoke relared injuries like lala said above. 

leave the mocking comments for other times and other threads. I am sure mcf is a much better place than this. 

Haiz....

 

[macrosszero]

On 4/8/2025 at 4:21 PM, Kopites said:

A life lost is a life too many.

Not to mention a young child life at stake. Hope those rescued and survived won't suffer too serious smoke relared injuries like lala said above. 

leave the mocking comments for other times and other threads. I am sure mcf is a much better place than this. 

Haiz....

 

I agree with you on this - no need to take every possible opportunity to snipe. No social graces. 

[ER-3682]

Construction Workers try to help,Local People only took Videos.

[Gnahp]

fire alarm system, automatic sprinklers, fire extinguishers?

I guess old shop houses no fire escape staircase

 

[Kopites]

Shared the news with wifey. She said tomato school is currently hosting the Easter cooking camp. 

[Atonchia]

On 4/8/2025 at 4:51 PM, Gnahp said:

fire alarm system, automatic sprinklers, fire extinguishers?

I guess old shop houses no fire escape staircase

 

This type looked like warehouse/ dormitory type. 

Some old shophouses have spiral staircase at the back. Not sure if it exist for this unit. 

Anyway if fire happened at hallway also can't escape. 

Let SCDF investigate the cause, also if the unit has sufficient fire safety system in place. If the unit stick to the max number people allow for the given space. 

I remember last time went party at MD Sultan SCDF ever ask lights on because of overcrowding in the bar....

Not saying for this case is overcrowding. But because it's old shophouses converted to commercial unit, not sure if there are sufficient fighting safety equipment/system or not.

[Gnahp]

On 4/8/2025 at 8:06 PM, Atonchia said:

This type looked like warehouse/ dormitory type. 

Some old shophouses have spiral staircase at the back. Not sure if it exist for this unit. 

Anyway if fire happened at hallway also can't escape. 

Let SCDF investigate the cause, also if the unit has sufficient fire safety system in place. If the unit stick to the max number people allow for the given space. 

I remember last time went party at MD Sultan SCDF ever ask lights on because of overcrowding in the bar....

Not saying for this case is overcrowding. But because it's old shophouses converted to commercial unit, not sure if there are sufficient fighting safety equipment/system or not.

I just checked, don't have boss....

if the fire burn near to the entrance, can only jump out from the windows

luckily 3 storeys only

I ask because last time my kids kindergarten was a landed two storey banglow

it has an ugly fire escape staircase like the pic I posted above, built attach to the side of the house

kindergarten people told me it is mandatory by SCDF

 

 

[Gnahp]

anyway, can go google maps to view the interior photos

I saw hose reel, smoke and heat detectors, fire extinguisher, fire alarm panel and CCTV cameras

[Atonchia]

On 4/8/2025 at 8:22 PM, Gnahp said:

I just checked, don't have boss....

if the fire burn near to the entrance, can only jump out from the windows

luckily 3 storeys only

I ask because last time my kids kindergarten was a landed two storey banglow

it has an ugly fire escape staircase like the pic I posted above, built attach to the side of the house

kindergarten people told me it is mandatory by SCDF

 

 

Actually many shophouses are like that.

The worse type are those 3 storeys, and only one stairwell up. If 2nd floor burning, the 3rd floor occupants will be stuck.

Come to think of it, my kids last childcare was also a landed unit but single floor, I didn't really check the fire safety stuff when registering them. But they have front and back entrance and side entrances. It's convenient as it's like 20m from my current estate entrance.

[Gnahp]

I told my wife my concerns

kids will take their nap at second floor

if got fire and they are trapped

all will turn into suckling pigs

my wife face turned black, said I stinky mouth

made me slap my face 3 times, each side some more and say choy choy choy

 

[Jellandross]

Thanks to the foreign workers for saving the day!

Real superheroes don't need to wear a cape.

♥️♥️♥️

[ER-3682]

On 4/8/2025 at 8:46 PM, Gnahp said:

I told my wife my concerns

kids will take their nap at second floor

if got fire and they are trapped

all will turn into suckling pigs

my wife face turned black, said I stinky mouth

made me slap my face 3 times, each side some more and say choy choy choy

 

Just slap your Face 3 Times.?Luckily never use your Torque Wrench hit your Head  3 Times.!

[Gnahp]

On 4/8/2025 at 9:05 PM, ER-3682 said:

Just slap your Face 3 Times.?Luckily never use your Torque Wrench hit your Head  3 Times.!

torque wrenches are delicate instrument

knock my torque wrench I will fight with her