Proportion of HDB Flat Fires Linked to Electrical Causes that Occurred in Pre-1997 and Post-1997 Flats

10 Mr Shawn Loh asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs of the HDB fire incidents in 2024 of electrical origin (a) what proportion occurred (i) in flats built in 1997 or earlier and covered by HDB’s Home Improvement Programme and (ii) in flats built after 1997, respectively; and (b) what number and proportion were attributable to faulty or old wiring.

Mr K Shanmugam: In 2024, there were 218 fires involving Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats that were attributed to electrical faults, and 129, or 59.2%, of these fires occurred in flats built up to 1997. Of these, 93 fires, or 42.7%, involved flats which had undergone or are still awaiting Home Improvement Programme works; 36 fires, or 16.5% involved flats which were upgraded via other programmes. The remaining 89 fires (40.8%) occurred in flats built after 1997. The Singapore Civil Defence Force does not track whether the cause of fires of electrical fault origin is specifically due to faulty or old wiring.