Fires involving discarded items are on the rise.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force, SCDF, says there was an 11 per cent increase in the number of such fires in the first six months of the year.
These discarded items placed at common spaces such as corridors, lift lobbies, staircases and void decks caused 240 fires between January and June this year.
SCDF says such fires have the potential to be more serious in nature.
Also, such fires can hinder the smooth evacuation of occupants.
It says such fires can be easily prevented.
Residents should make it a point not to leave unwanted household items outside their homes or at common areas such as corridors and lift lobbies.
These items, especially bulky furniture and newspapers, can easily start fires when lighted materials such as incense sticks and cigarette butts are indiscriminately thrown onto them.
SCDF advises residents to make arrangements with the Town Councils to remove any bulky items.
Altogether, the SCDF says it responded to some 2,800 fires between January and June.
This was a 10 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
The increase, it says, is partly attributed to a rise in vegetation fires for the first six months of the year.
--938Live