Update on Fire Incident in MRT Tunnel on 16 October 2020
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the fire incident involving an engineering locomotive in the MRT tunnel on 16 October 2020, as raised by Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis. Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the impact on maintenance and safety protocols, to which Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung responded that the fire caused no service disruptions or impact on maintenance ability. Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung attributed the fire to a lubricant oil leak and stated that SMRT is conducting fleetwide checks on gaskets and reviewing equipment with the supplier. He highlighted safety infrastructure including tunnel ventilation fans, firefighting water supplies, and on-board extinguishers available on all trains and locomotives. Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung concluded that all staff are trained in firefighting and first aid to facilitate standard emergency evacuation procedures for commuters.
Transcript
79 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Transport with regard to the fire in the MRT tunnel between Orchard and Somerset stations on 16 October 2020 (a) how many engineering locomotives were in service then; (b) whether the damaged engineering locomotive will impede maintenance works by SMRT; and (c) what safety measures are in place for fighting MRT tunnel fires.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: During engineering hours on 16 October 2020, a small fire started on a locomotive that was travelling in the MRT tunnel between Orchard and Somerset stations. It was immediately put out by SMRT’s maintenance staff using on-board fire extinguishers, before SCDF arrived at the scene. The situation was resolved within 20 minutes.
The fire was caused by lubricant oil that leaked from a broken gasket and combusted upon contact with the locomotive's hot exhaust pipe. There was no damage to other parts of the railway and the incident did not affect train services nor SMRT's maintenance ability. SMRT is conducting a fleetwide check of all the gaskets and critical components on their locomotives, and will initiate a review with the equipment supplier, who had earlier replaced the gaskets in July 2020.
All underground tunnels are equipped with ventilation fans which can expel smoke and supply fresh air. All trains and locomotives have fire extinguishers on board, with all MRT staff trained in basic firefighting and first aid. There is water supply in all stations and tunnels for firefighting. Standard Operating Procedures are in place to evacuate commuters in times of emergency.