2 HDB fires involved severe hoarding between 2020 and 2025: Shanmugam

Published Sep 09, 2026, 11:46 PM

Updated Sep 09, 2026, 11:46 PM

Two severe hoarding-related HDB fires occurred between 2020 and 2025, one causing a fatality and the other resulting in injuries despite decluttering efforts.

SCDF can order occupants to clear escape routes in severe hoarding cases, with penalties for non-compliance.

Managing hoarding is complex, requiring a coordinated, whole-of-society approach through agencies like the Hoarding Management Core Group and New Environment Action Team.

SINGAPORE – Two fires that occurred in Housing Board flats between 2020 and 2025 involved severe hoarding.

One of the fires resulted in a fatality, while the residents in the second case suffered smoke inhalation and burn injuries, said Senior Minister K. Shanmugam in a written reply to a parliamentary question on Sept 9.

The resident in the fatal case had been resistant to decluttering.

In the other case, government agencies and community support groups had helped the residents declutter the unit, but the hoarding behaviour returned .

Shanmugam, who is also the Minister for Home Affairs , was responding to a question from Shawn Loh (Jalan Besar GRC), who asked for the number of hoarding-related HDB fires since 2020, and whether the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was able to take safety action before fires occur.

Previously reported statistics show there were 23 hoarding-related fires between 2021 and 2024.

The fire risks posed by hoarding has been a concern for other MPs too.

Tin Pei Ling (Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC ) told The Straits Times she had observed hoarding cases during home visits.

“If we think it’s a fire hazard, we engage volunteers’ help (to dispose of items),” she said, adding that it can be a challenge as residents may not be willing to part with their belongings.

Tin also said the town council conducts weekly checks at common corridors outside HDB flats to ensure compliance with SCDF’s fire safety requirements.

Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang) had also told ST that the authorities should review whether SCDF and other relevant agencies have adequate powers to intervene where serious fire hazards are identified within residential units.

When it comes to hoarding cases, agencies will assess if the threshold for public health or safety risks has been crossed, said Shanmugam.

“In terms of fire safety, the key risk associated with hoarding is the obstruction of escape routes for occupants and neighbouring units during emergencies,” he said.

For severe hoarding cases which may prevent flat occupants from escaping during a fire, SCDF may direct the occupant to clear and maintain a path of escape within the unit for safety reasons.

Failure to comply is an offence that carries a fine of up to $10,000, a jail term not exceeding six months, or both.

Shanmugam added that SCDF did not issue a direction to maintain an escape path in the two fire incidents involving severe hoarding between 2020 and 2025.

Managing severe hoarding cases is complex and requires a whole-of-society approach, he said.

“This is coordinated through the Hoarding Management Core Group and the New Environment Action Team network, which work together to address the root causes of hoarding more holistically and sustainably, beyond regulatory action.

“Agencies will continue to work closely to manage hoarding cases.”

发布于 2026 年 9 月 9 日晚上 11:46

更新于2026年9月9日晚上11:46

2020 年至 2025 年间，发生了两起与囤积物有关的严重组屋火灾，其中一起造成一人死亡，另一起造成人员受伤，尽管已采取清理措施。

在严重囤积物品的情况下，新加坡民防部队可以命令住户清理逃生路线，不服从者将受到处罚。

囤积行为的管理十分复杂，需要通过囤积行为管理核心小组和新环境行动小组等机构，采取协调一致的全社会方法。

新加坡——2020 年至 2025 年间，组屋发生的两起火灾都与严重的囤积行为有关。

9月9日，高级部长尚穆根在书面答复议会质询时表示，其中一起火灾造成一人死亡，而另一起火灾中的居民则遭受了吸入浓烟和烧伤的伤害。

造成人员死亡的这名居民一直不愿清理杂物。

在另一个案例中，政府机构和社区支持团体帮助居民清理了房屋内的杂物，但囤积行为又复发了。

尚穆根同时也是内政部长，他是在回答惹兰勿刹集选区议员罗绍文提出的问题时做出上述表态的。罗绍文询问自 2020 年以来，与囤积居奇有关的组屋火灾数量，以及新加坡民防部队 (SCDF) 是否能够在火灾发生前采取安全措施。

此前报道的统计数据显示，2021 年至 2024 年间共发生 23 起与囤积行为有关的火灾。

囤积物品造成的火灾隐患也引起了其他议员的关注。

（马林百列-布莱德尔高地集选区）陈佩玲告诉《海峡时报》，她在家访期间观察到了一些囤积物品的案例。

“如果我们认为存在火灾隐患，我们会请志愿者帮忙（处理物品），”她说道，并补充说，这可能是一个挑战，因为居民可能不愿意放弃他们的财物。

Tin还表示，市镇理事会每周都会对组屋外的公共走廊进行检查，以确保符合新加坡民防部队的消防安全要求。

梁恩华（武吉班让）也曾告诉《海峡时报》，当局应该审查新加坡民防部队和其他相关机构是否有足够的权力在住宅单位中发现严重火灾隐患时进行干预。

尚穆根表示，对于囤积案件，相关机构将评估是否已超过公共卫生或安全风险的阈值。

他说：“就消防安全而言，囤积物品的主要风险在于，在紧急情况下会阻碍住户和邻近单元的逃生路线。”

对于严重的囤积情况，可能会阻止公寓住户在火灾中逃生，新加坡民防部队可能会指示住户清理并保持单元内的逃生通道，以确保安全。

不遵守规定属于违法行为，可处以最高 10,000 美元的罚款、不超过六个月的监禁，或两者并罚。

尚穆根补充说，在 2020 年至 2025 年间发生的两起涉及严重囤积的火灾事件中，新加坡民防部队没有发出指令来保持逃生通道。

他表示，处理严重的囤积症病例很复杂，需要全社会的共同努力。

“这项工作由囤积管理核心小组和新环境行动小组网络协调开展，这两个小组共同努力，以更全面、更可持续的方式解决囤积的根本原因，而不仅仅依靠监管措施。

“各机构将继续密切合作，处理囤积案件。”