The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted at 0015 a.m. today that a vessel moored in the waters southeast of Singapore was on fire.
When the West Coast Maritime Fire Department arrived at the scene, they saw billowing smoke pouring out of the machine room.
The fire captain and a firefighter entered the fire scene and used a fire hose to put out the fire.
Archival photo of the Water Fire Brigade (Source: SCDF FB)
At the same time, the team leader, with a thermal sensor, moved around in the machine room where he couldn't see his fingers, trying to detect the specific location of other fire points.
Soon after, the second team entered the machine room and prepared for support. They found the captain lying at the bottom of a rung. This is located on a platform under the machine room, about four meters from the machine room.
The captain was conscious at the time, but appeared to be weak, so he immediately organized an evacuation. He then lost consciousness and was immediately performed CPR by the team members present.
Later, he was taken to the National University Hospital by ambulance via Pasir Panjang Pier.
Unfortunately, at 0550 in the morning, he died after rescue efforts.
This is the second time in the history of the Singapore Civil Defence Force to be killed in the line of duty.
On 8 December 2022, a 19-year-old full-time NS firefighter, Goh Wang Chak, died in a coma while fighting a fire at Block 91 of Hendeson Road in the Redhill area, making him the first person to die in the line of duty since the establishment of the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
【Singapore Eye Review】
Everyone knows that the fire scene is dangerous, and firefighters are using their own lives to save other people's lives and property.
An oil refinery firefighting operation in 2018 (Photo source: SCDF FB) And ship firefighting is more dangerous than ordinary fires. First, the site on the ship is cramped, and it is difficult to attack or evacuate; Second, the ships are made of steel and have poor ventilation, so the temperature of the fire is extremely high, which is higher than that of ordinary fires; Third, due to lack of ventilation, smoke and poisonous gases are very fast and very thick; Fourth, due to the darkness and the fact that there are many obstacles and steps in the hull, it is extremely easy to get trapped, extremely easy to fall or bruise, and extremely easy to get lost.
Archival photo of the Water Fire Brigade (Source: SCDF FB)
Therefore, ship firefighting is a very specialized field, and there is more professional training than ordinary firefighting work. To fight fires in ordinary places, it is required to be at least two people in a group, echo each other, and help each other when there is a dangerous situation, especially when fighting fires on ships, and do not act alone.
The martyr in this case was a professional fire chief, whose military rank should be lieutenant or captain, or at least warrant officer, and should be relatively rich in combat experience, especially warrant officer, with at least ten years of experience.
It is generally speculated that there are several possibilities for lying on the fire. One is to get lost and fall down at the mouth of the stairs; One is tripping over an obstacle.
An oil refinery firefighting operation in 2018 (Photo source: SCDF FB)
The details of the case are unknown, and the authorities are organizing a professional investigation team to find out the ins and outs.
It is believed that the Civil Defense Force will soon announce the names and ranks of the fallen heroes.
We would like to pay tribute to the souls of those who lost their lives in the line of duty, as well as to the families and the Civil Defence Force.
ABC丨Editor
CY丨Editor
Network data collation丨Source
SCDF Facebook丨Image source
1. The copyright of all works on this website that indicates the type of article as "original" belongs to Kannanyang and Singapore Eye. When reprinting and using by other media, websites or individuals, they must indicate: "Article source: Singapore Eye".
2. All works indicated on this website as "reprinted" and "compiled" are reprinted or compiled from other media, for the purpose of delivering more valuable information, and it does not mean that this official account agrees with its views and is responsible for its authenticity.