Props to SCDF officers who fought the flames at Punggol and Changi Airport yesterday

Yesterday was a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Two fires broke out in two different parts of Singapore, one after another, and it was Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to the rescue.

The first massive one saw black smoke pillowing from the Hon Industries’ Global Indian International School construction site at Punggol Field, where two workers stranded in a gondola lift were saved by SCDF officers, who rappelled down to bring them to safety. Both employees were later taken to Changi General Hospital for smoke inhalation. By 6.50pm, SCDF officers had the fire under control, and they continued damping down the affected area to avoid the fire rekindling from burnt surfaces.

Around the same time, Changi Airport Terminal 2 was being evacuated after a “small fire” engulfed a room with air-conditioning equipment, according to the SCDF. The fire alarm sounded at around 5.40pm because of “smoke coming through the air vents”, said Changi Airport officials.

A few people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and SCDF officials put out the fire with a hosereel jet. Changi Airport gave an update around 6.45pm to assure the public that the situation was under control and the cause of the fire was identified.

Terminal 2 ended up being shut for over four hours, with flights moved to Terminal 3 and 40 flights affected by delays. SCDF officers were seen bringing fans into the terminal to clear the smoke lingering in the air, and they finally gave T2 the all-clear around 10pm, allowing flights to begin resuming progressively. According to The Straits Times, Changi Airport returned to business as usual at 3am on Wednesday, although some shops were left worse off than others after the fire.

But thanks to the work of the SCDF and police officers, both the Punggol and Changi Airport fires were extinguished, and people were safely evacuated and warned away from the flames and fumes.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean took to Facebook to thank the SCDF for their swift response to both situations.