SINGAPORE – Operators of recycling facilities will be reminded about how best to minimise fire risks at their premises, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Feb 20, following a blaze in Kranji the day before.
In a media reply, the agency said that along with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), it will investigate the hours-long fire at 11 Kranji Crescent, the listed address of recycling and waste management firm Wah & Hua on its webpage.
“Whether or not action will be taken will depend on the outcome of the investigation,” NEA added.
It was the fourth such incident at this address, following fires in March 2018, June 2023 and March 2024, the agency said.
The Feb 19 fire was largely extinguished after a nearly nine-hour battle that began at about 10.30am, the SCDF said in a Facebook post at 7pm the same evening.
Six water jets, four unmanned firefighting machines, an unmanned aerial vehicle and a combined platform ladder were deployed at the height of the operation.
NEA said on Feb 20 it had worked with the Ministry of Manpower and SCDF in 2022 to publish an advisory on safe management of waste materials.
Among the guidelines is the segregation of waste materials, as the mixing of incompatible waste can result in unintended chemical reactions and risk of spontaneous combustion.
Other guidelines include installing early detection devices such as thermal probes, thermographic cameras and heat detecting systems.
NEA said it will work with the relevant agencies to update the guidelines if there are new findings from the latest incident.
- Sherlyn Sim is a journalist at The Straits Times who covers breaking news and current events.
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