Thank goodness the pre-school was not in session yet and no one was caught in it when a fierce fire broke out at its premises at Shelford Road this morning.
The fire at Pre-school By-The-Park erupted before sunrise, a few hours before the 9am starting time for its sessions for kids.
Ferocious flames engulfed the entire first floor of the three-storey building, causing a chunk of the roof to collapse.
Before the firemen arrived, about 25 residents from neighbouring homes including those behind it had already fled for their safety, a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) spokesman told AsiaOne.
The SCDF, which was alerted to the fire at about 6.50am, set up three water jets to fight the fire in the house first, and then another two jets outside to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. It was largely put out at around 8am, said the spokesman
Tay Denver, Joanna Seow, Dios Vincoy Jr, The Straits Times
No one was in the pre-school when the incident happened, said the spokesman. Neither was anyone hurt, she added.
At midday, firemen were still there to douse any remaining burning cinders.
When it received the call for help, SCDF sent two fire engines, two red rhinos, one ambulance and two support vehicles to the scene.
Staff from the school, who were standing outside the premises, told The Straits Times that parents had been told to send their children to two sister branches in Dunearn Road and Li Hwan View.
Parents usually dropped off their children at the Shelford Road pre-school from 7am onward, before classes begin at 9am.
chenj@sph.com.sg
