Singaporean Woman, 46, Arrested After Fire at Sembawang HDB Flat; Authorities Suspect Blaze Was Deliberately Set
A 46-year-old woman has been arrested after a fire broke out at a Housing Board (HDB) flat in Sembawang on Tuesday evening, June 30, with preliminary investigations indicating that the blaze was deliberately started.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said that they were informed about the incident at Block 512 Wellington Circle at about 5:15 pm on June 30.
According to the SCDF, firefighters extinguished the blaze using a water jet. The fire was confined to the bedroom of a unit located on the 10th floor. “Preliminary investigation indicates that the fire was deliberately set,” the SCDF told The Straits Times.
Woman Hospitalized for Smoke Inhalation
The authorities said that the 46-year-old woman was conscious when she was taken to Singapore General Hospital after suffering smoke inhalation.
Following the incident, she was arrested for mischief by fire, police confirmed on Wednesday, July 1. Meanwhile, the investigations into the case are still ongoing.
Videos Show Thick Smoke and Flames
Several photos and videos shared on Facebook on Tuesday, June 30, captured dramatic scenes from the incident, showing thick black smoke pouring from the windows of the affected unit. Flames could also be seen shooting upward, with smoke rising to the top of the residential block.
The images quickly circulated online as emergency responders worked to contain the fire.
Residential Fires Continue to Rise
The incident comes as Singapore continues to see an increase in fire incidents. According to the SCDF’s annual statistics report released in February, the total number of fires rose by 3 percent from 1,990 cases in 2024 to 2,050 cases in 2025.
Residential buildings accounted for 1,051 fire cases in 2025, representing an 8.6 percent increase from the 968 cases recorded the previous year.
The SCDF said that unattended cooking and electrical fires, including faults in electrical wiring and overloaded power sockets, remained the two leading causes of residential fires.
While the cause of most home fires is linked to accidents or electrical issues, authorities are continuing to investigate the Sembawang incident after preliminary findings suggested the blaze was intentionally started.
