Regarded as Ray Bradbury’s finest work, the novel Fahrenheit 451 depicts a dystopian future in which books are outlawed and burnt, with the title referring to the auto-ignition point of paper.
But we doubt that this man — who was arrested on suspicion of intentionally setting fire to books at St Hilda’s Church — was making a commentary on the dangers of an illiterate society.
At about 7am yesterday, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to a case at the Anglican church along Ceylon Road, where black smoke was seen emanating from its roof.
Firefighters found the blaze inside a room on the second floor of the church — it was a fire that involved books. The blaze was promptly extinguished with a compressed air foam system.
No injuries were reported, fortunately, and the 60-year-old suspect will be charged in court tomorrow for mischief by fire.
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