A BMW caught fire at the carpark of Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre on Saturday afternoon, prompting two hawker centre cleaners and several members of the public to rush to the scene with fire extinguishers.
The incident happened on Sept. 26 at Block 69 Geylang Bahru, where the vehicle caught fire while parked near the hawker centre. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted at about 3:55 p.m. and responded to the blaze.
One of the cleaners, a 38-year-old man, said he was collecting used bowls and plates when he noticed smoke coming from the carpark. After realizing that a vehicle was on fire, he and a colleague retrieved 11 fire extinguishers from the hawker centre’s fire equipment cabinet and brought them to the scene.
Several members of the public also joined the effort to contain the fire before emergency responders completed the operation.
The SCDF said the fire was confined to the BMW’s engine compartment. Firefighters extinguished the blaze using a water jet and hose reel. No injuries were reported.
The BMW owner, a 34-year-old man, said the vehicle had begun emitting smoke less than a minute after he left it to have a meal at the hawker centre. He then noticed flames coming from the engine compartment and moved away before contacting emergency services.
The owner said he had possessed the BMW for about five years and had not experienced problems with the vehicle before the incident.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The incident also highlighted the importance of quick action when a vehicle fire occurs in a crowded carpark. Engine-compartment fires can spread rapidly, while vehicles parked nearby can potentially become exposed to heat and flames.
The cleaners’ decision to retrieve multiple extinguishers provided an immediate response before firefighters took full control of the situation. Their actions, together with assistance from members of the public, helped address the blaze while emergency crews were on their way.
The Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre is located at Block 69 Geylang Bahru, a neighbourhood market and dining facility serving residents and visitors in the surrounding area.
For motorists, the incident is another reminder that vehicle smoke or unusual smells should not be ignored. A fire originating in the engine compartment can develop quickly, making it important to move away from the vehicle and contact emergency services rather than attempting to investigate the source of the smoke.
The investigation will determine what caused the BMW to catch fire and whether any mechanical or other factors contributed to the incident.
For now, there were no reported injuries, while the rapid response from cleaners, bystanders and emergency responders helped prevent the situation from becoming more serious.
