BMW catches fire at Geylang Bahru market carpark, hawker centre cleaners help to put it out - Mothership

UPDATE on Sep. 28, 12:30pm: This article has been updated with information from the car owner.

Two hawker centre cleaning staff reportedly rushed to put out a fire that broke out in a BMW car at the Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre carpark on Sep. 26.

One of them, aged 38, told Shin Min Daily News that he was collecting used bowls and plates at the hawker centre when he saw smoke coming from the direction of the carpark.

After realising that a car had caught fire, he and a fellow employee ran to take 11 fire extinguishers out of the fire equipment cabinet in the hawker centre, then raced to the blaze.

As the situation looked urgent, several members of the public who were in the area also went over to help put out the fire.

"It was a simple job, and something I ought to do," the 38-year-old said. "I'm also grateful to the passers-by who stepped in to help. It was also because the civil defence officers arrived very fast that the fire did not spread further."

Photos show a blaze and smoke emitting from the hood of the car.

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the incident at about 3:55pm, and that the fire involved the car's engine compartment.

SCDF officers extinguished the flames using a water jet and a hose reel.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The owner of the BMW told Mothership that the car started smoking as soon as her husband, who was driving, parked and stopped the engine.

"Once we opened the car doors, people around started shouting at us that our car was on fire and to... 'faster run,’” she said.

The couple then got a safe distance away to assess the situation.

However, on the advice of a passer-by, her husband decided to go back and reverse the car as it was near some diners, potentially putting them in danger.

But as soon as he started the engine to do so, the passenger side of the car went up in flames, the owner said.

Thankfully, he managed to open the door and make it out, the wife recounted.

The driver went aside to call the SCDF for help, then helped the members of the public with putting out the fire.

The couple expressed gratitude to the SCDF and "all the brave men and women" who alerted them about the fire and helped to keep it under control before the SCDF arrived.

They have owned the six-year-old car for two years without incident, the wife added.