SINGAPORE - The storage of items along the corridor of a Serangoon Housing Board flat, where a “sauna” cabin was recently removed, resulted in fire safety infringements, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said.

It added that it will be taking enforcement action against whoever is responsible for the obstruction.

Pictures of the cabin went viral online earlier, with some netizens asking whether the placement of such a wooden structure outside HDB flats was allowed.

The cabin was subsequently removed on July 11, after its owner requested help from the Marine Parade Town Council to do so.

An SCDF spokeswoman said in response to The Straits Times’ queries that it had conducted an inspection at Block 427 Serangoon Central on July 11 after receiving public feedback.

“During the inspection, the sauna-like structure was found to have been removed,” she added.

“However, several other fire safety infringements were detected, including the storage of items along the common corridor, which resulted in obstruction to means of escape via the staircases.”

ST visited the location on July 11 and saw cabinets, bicycles and more than 40 potted plants near where the cabin was located.

Two men in SCDF uniforms were also seen there with measuring tapes.

Neighbours whom ST interviewed for an earlier story said that while the cabin did not obstruct their path, it could be hard to walk along the corridor near where it stood, especially if they were carrying groceries.

The town council told ST on July 16 that it had worked closely with the home owner over the past few days to “significantly” reduce the clutter, and had cleared the corridor.

Earlier, it said it had worked with the owner to declutter the area for years.

“We remain committed to further tidying the common areas to ensure they remain unobstructed,” said the town council.

Anyone responsible for fire safety infringements will be issued with a Fire Hazard Abatement Notice, which is a written warning to rectify the fire hazards, said the SCDF spokesperson.

Those responsible for serious infringements may be fined up to $5,000, after removing the fire hazard.

Those who fail to remove the fire hazard may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.

A cluttered common area can hamper firefighting efforts and the evacuation of residents, said the spokesperson.

“Residents are strongly encouraged to do their part to maintain a safe living environment by ensuring that their means of escape are unobstructed and that common areas at their premises are kept clutter-free.”

The SCDF gave these fire safety tips:

• Do not discard or place items in common areas such as lift lobbies and staircases.
• Ensure a minimum clear escape passage of 1.2m along the common corridor.
• Approach the town council to arrange for the removal of bulky items.