A coroner's inquiry into a fatal Hougang fire has heard that the family of three who died had refused help from the Housing and Development Board (HDB) regarding hoarding in their flat, according to The Straits Times.
The Straits Times reports that the inquiry, which began on Monday, examined the circumstances of the blaze. The same outlet's coverage states that clutter inside the HDB unit turned what was described as a minor fault into a deadly fire.
The inquiry is looking into how the fire started and spread, and what part the accumulated items in the flat played in the outcome.
Hoarding in residential flats has drawn attention in Singapore because of the risks it can create, both for the occupants and for neighbours. The Straits Times reports that the family had been offered assistance by HDB over the hoarding issue but declined it.
The coroner's findings are expected to set out the sequence of events and the factors that contributed to the deaths. The Straits Times notes that the case centres on how a small fault escalated inside a cluttered home.
Details of the hearing, including the identities of the deceased and the specific cause of the fire, were not included in the reporting summarised above.
What to watch next: the coroner's formal findings and any recommendations on how agencies respond when residents refuse help with hoarding.
