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Pulau Busing oil storage tank fire extinguished by SCDF after hours-long battle

Photo of firefighting operations on Pulau Busing on 20 March 2018: SCDF
Photo of firefighting operations on Pulau Busing on 20 March 2018: SCDF

Update: The “raging” oil storage tank fire has been extinguished after approximately six hours of “intense” firefighting operations, SCDF said early on Wednesday morning.

The firefighting operations to battle a blaze at an oil storage tank on Pulau Busing are expected to be extended, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), more than six hours after it was first reported on Tuesday evening (20 March).

There have been no reported casualties.

The SCDF has been giving updates via its Facebook page on the “massive” fire operations to douse the raging fire that it first reported at 6.33pm.

Resources were deployed to Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal, prior to boarding a craft to Pulau Busing, the SCDF said at 7.13pm. Members of the Company Emergency Response Team (CERT) were conducting firefighting operations, it added.

Photo of firefighting operations on Pulau Busing on 20 March 2018: SCDF
Photo of firefighting operations on Pulau Busing on 20 March 2018: SCDF

A total of 31 firefighting and support vehicles, and 128 personnel were involved in the operations.

SCDF Emergency Responders were working with CERT members to carry out “boundary cooling” of the adjacent tanks including setting up Large Monitors (Big Guns), SCDF said in a post at 11pm.

Permanent Secretary (Home Affairs) Pang Kin Keong, who was at the scene, was briefed by SCDF Commissioner Eric Yap on the complexity of the operations.

In a post at 0.31am on Wednesday, SCDF posted pictures of its firefighters taking turns to rest after “arduous prolonged” firefighting operations on Pulau Busing before they resume their duties.

Photo of firefighting operations on Pulau Busing on 20 March 2018: SCDF
Photo of firefighting operations on Pulau Busing on 20 March 2018: SCDF

Meanwhile, the National Environment Agency said in a statement that it was monitoring air quality closely as a result of the fire, especially in the southwestern region of Singapore.

“The prevailing winds are currently blowing from the northeast and the air quality has remained in the Good to Moderate range, with no spikes in the PM2.5, sulphur dioxide and other air pollutant levels,” said NEA, adding that it will provide updates if there were changes in the air quality situation.

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