A routine animal rescue call turned into a dramatic and heart-wrenching operation for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on the morning of April 21. Responding to a fire in a second-floor HDB unit at Block 422 Fajar Road, SCDF not only extinguished the flames but also rescued 14 cats trapped inside, with some needing CPR to survive.
The fire, which broke out in the contents of a service yard, caused panic among residents, leading to the evacuation of around 20 people from nearby units. SCDF personnel, who are cross-trained as emergency medical technicians, rushed to the scene and immediately began administering oxygen and CPR to the unconscious cats.
Fortunately, 13 of the cats regained consciousness, but sadly, one cat could not be revived and passed away. SCDF reported that they used three compressed air foam backpacks to put out the fire and managed to safely rescue the cats, who were found unconscious across both floors of the unit.
In a heartwarming display of community support, a TikTok video was posted by user Itshambali, showing the SCDF and Singapore Police Force (SPF) personnel working on the cats. The video, which gained significant traction online with over 149,000 views, included a call for donations to help the family affected by the fire. The plea emphasized supporting the homeowners in this difficult time and highlighted the importance of community involvement.
The post also received praise from netizens for the heroic efforts of the SCDF personnel, with one commenter noting, “These boys from SCDF are our golden boys. They trained in pain and risk their lives not only for us but for any animals too.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and while the tragic loss of one cat has left the community saddened, the rescue effort was hailed as a success in saving the lives of many animals.