CHINESE NEW YEAR FIRES (Casualties)

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Social Affairs how many people died as a result of fires during the Chinese New Year up to Chap Goh Meh; whether there were delays by the Fire Brigade in dealing with the fires, and whether any such delays led to the casualties.

Mr Chan Chee Seng (for the Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by the Minister to reply.

No persons were killed as a result of fires during the Chinese New Year up to Chap Goh Meh.

However, there were six deaths caused as a result of injuries suffered from cracker explosions on three separate cracker incidents on 20th February, 1970.

In the first incident, two persons died as a result of a cracker incident at 11-A, MacKenzie Road. There was no fire in this incident and the Fire Brigade was not called.

In the second incident, three persons died as a result of injuries suffered from cracker explosions at 290-P, Joo Chiat Road. The cracker explosions, besides fatally injuring three people, started a small fire in a bedroom which was put out by the occupants before the arrival of the Fire Brigade. There was no delay on the part of the Fire Brigade in responding to the call.

In the third incident one person died as a result of a fire cracker incident at 8G, Block 105, Gagak Selari Barat. There was no fire and the Fire Brigade was not called.

The six deaths were caused by cracker explosions and there is no question of any delay by the Fire Brigade causing the casualties.

The Fire Brigade and the Police are working out regulations to prevent any repetition of such a disaster.

Henceforth, all firing of crackers is prohibited, unless permits from the Police have been obtained. Permits will be granted only on very special private occasions. For traditional festive occasions, like Chinese New Year's Eve and Chap Goh Meh, each constituency will have a number of open spaces, designated by the Police, where firing will be allowed between specified hours but only by adults. These open places will be determined after consultation with the constituency's Citizens' Consultative Committee and management committees of the community centres. Fire and other safety precautions will be taken at these designated places to deal with accidents.

Quality control of crackers locally manufactured and imported is also being looked into.