SCDF reports 1,990 fires in 2024, five fatalities; AMD and electrical fires on the rise

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to 1,990 fires in 2024, marking a 1.8 per cent increase from 2023.

According to annual statistics released by SCDF on Thursday, 13 February, there were 80 fire-related injuries and five fatalities last year.

Fires involving active mobility devices (AMDs) surged by 21.8 per cent, with 67 cases reported in 2024, up from 55 in the previous year.

SCDF highlighted that AMD-related fires—linked to power-assisted bicycles, personal mobility devices, and personal mobility aids—remain a key concern, particularly in residential premises.

SCDF reiterated the importance of fire safety, advising the public not to charge AMD batteries for prolonged periods or leave them unattended overnight, and to avoid purchasing non-original batteries.

Residential and Electrical Fires

Of the 1,990 fires in 2024, 968 occurred in residential buildings, slightly fewer than the 970 reported in 2023.

In February 2024, separate fires in Housing Board flats at Marsiling Road and Canberra Crescent claimed two lives.

In May, a 60-year-old man died in a fire at Block 76 Lorong Limau in Whampoa, while in August, a 44-year-old man perished in a blaze outside a flat at Block 107 Potong Pasir Avenue 1.

The fifth victim, a 79-year-old woman, was killed in a fire at Block 692A Choa Chu Kang Crescent in September.

Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing into the deaths of two men who died in a fire at a Kaki Bukit industrial building that same month.

Unattended cooking was the leading cause, though cases fell from 384 in 2023 to 335 in 2024.

Meanwhile, fires of electrical origin rose by 8.3 per cent, reaching 299 cases last year. The majority were due to faults in wiring, electrical appliances, or overloaded sockets.

AMDs were involved in 44 residential fires, representing a 25.7 per cent increase from 2023.

Non-Building and Vehicle Fires

Non-building fires rose by 4.7 per cent in 2024 to 607 cases. Vehicle fires accounted for 220 incidents, with only one involving an electric vehicle.

SCDF attributed most vehicle fires to overheating or electrical faults in engine compartments.

Vegetation fires saw a significant rise of 35.3 per cent, reaching 180 cases, while fires involving discarded items dropped by 8.5 per cent to 97 cases.

Fires in non-residential buildings, including commercial and industrial premises, increased by 2.7 per cent to 415 cases.

SCDF pledged to continue its collaboration with the National Fire and Emergency Preparedness Council, building owners, and fire safety managers to enhance awareness and preventive measures.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

SCDF responded to 245,279 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) calls in 2024, a slight 0.6 per cent decrease from the previous year. Of these, 228,838 were emergency calls, 10,728 were non-emergency calls, and 5,713 were false alarms.

Medical-related emergencies made up 79.5 per cent of emergency calls, followed by trauma cases (16.3 per cent) and road traffic accidents (4.2 per cent). Nearly half of all EMS calls involved seniors aged 65 and above.

SCDF noted a gradual upward trend in EMS demand over the past five years and expects it to continue due to Singapore’s ageing population.

Fire Safety Enforcement

SCDF conducted 15,075 fire safety enforcement checks in 2024, a slight 0.2 per cent increase from 2023.

It issued 1,061 notices of offence (NOOs) and 2,579 fire hazard abatement notices (FHANs), both lower than in 2023.

The most common FHAN was for failure to maintain firefighting equipment, accounting for 25.9 per cent of all notices issued.

The most common NOO was for unauthorised changes in the use of premises, making up 33.6 per cent of all NOOs issued.

SCDF reaffirmed its commitment to public education and strict enforcement to uphold fire safety standards across Singapore.