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It was 11pm on 5 September 2025 when the first call came through. A fire had been reported at Block 31 at Chai Chee Avenue.
Station Inspector (SI) Indrawira Bin Zainal and his partner, Special Constable Corporal (SC/Cpl) Dway Min Hlaing, were conducting a routine patrol when they heard the dispatch.
“We were just beside the block,” recalls SI Indrawira, a Ground Response Force officer at Bedok Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC). With 20 years of experience in the Singapore Police Force (SPF), he knew time was essential: “I informed the Police Operations Command Centre that we’d be the first responders at the scene.”
Both officers ran towards the block, taking with them a fire extinguisher from their Next-Generation Fast Response Car. The sound of glass windows being broken by the fire echoed from above, and broken glass panes were scattered on the ground below, though no visible flames or smoke could be seen from where they were standing.
Into the Darkness
The real challenge awaited them inside as the block was hit by a blackout from the second floor upwards. Racing up to the eighth floor, where the fire had been reported, SI Indrawira and SC/Cpl Dway switched on their torches.
The acrid smoke immediately hit them as they cautiously made their way to the unit reported to be on fire.
“I opened the front gate and then the door – both were unsecured – and a rush of thick, black smoke was released,” SI Indrawira recalls.
Both officers dropped to their knees, shouting into the unit to check if there were any residents inside. The smoke stung their eyes and intense heat radiated from within.
SC/Cpl Dway spotted raging flames at the corner of the unit. To contain the fire, SI Indrawira closed the front door and called for backup. Their priority now was to evacuate residents who appeared lost and confused by the smoke and darkness.
A Life and Death Decision
When backup arrived - Senior Staff Sergeant (SSSgt) Wendy Sui and SSSgt Ahmad Bin Hashim from Bedok NPC – the four officers began to systematically evacuate residents from the ninth and 10th floors.
In one of the ninth-floor units, they encountered an unexpected challenge: an elderly Chinese man who was confined to a wheelchair and relied on an oxygen cylinder as a medical aid. At his side was his daughter.
“They were reluctant to leave,” SI Indrawira explains. Speaking to the elderly man and his daughter in Chinese, SSSgt Sui explained the urgency of the moment.
The daughter expressed deep concern about safely moving her father in his wheelchair through the dark, smoke-filled corridors. She was worried that any potential obstacles could cause him serious harm.
SI Indrawira quickly assessed the situation. The corridor was pitch-black and littered with items like shoe racks and bicycles. Carrying an oxygen cylinder that could explode if exposed to extreme heat added another layer of danger. Pushing a wheelchair through this obstacle course seemed impossible.
In that critical moment, SI Indrawira made his decision. “I reassured them in the basic Mandarin that I know – Don't worry, I'll help you,” he shares.
The plan was simple but risky: he’d carry the elderly man on his back down the staircase.
“I used to piggyback my 11-year-old daughter while training for high-intensity fitness competitions,” SI Indrawira explains. “This would be similar, but then, my training hadn’t taken place in a dark, smoke-filled corridor.”
Every Step Mattered
With the plan set, each officer knew their role. SSSgt Sui positioned herself behind SI Indrawira to ensure that the elderly man had access to the oxygen cylinder. “It was smaller and lighter than I expected,” she says. “Despite my initial worries, I stayed focused on my task.”
SSSgt Ahmad grabbed the folded wheelchair without hesitation. “My immediate thought was, ‘I’m ready for it; let’s go,’” he says with a confidence born from nine years of ground experience. Meanwhile, SC/Cpl Dway used his torch to illuminate their path.
As they began their descent, the journey proved challenging. “The elderly man was frail, making it difficult to balance his weight,” SI Indrawira explains. “I had to bend my body lower so that his chest rested firmly on my back. I also minded every step down the staircase, which was wet in certain places and littered with charred debris.”
Any slip would cause injury to both men. “All I could do was silently pray,” SI Indrawira admits. “I kept reassuring the elderly man in Mandarin not to worry as I took every step quickly yet cautiously.”
The elderly man responded with a frail, “Okay,” his voice barely audible.
Their coordinated efforts paid off, with each officer playing a vital role in helping the elderly man and his daughter reach the ground floor safely. “Seeing my officers brave this evacuation beside me made me forget about the fatigue and difficulty breathing,” SI Indrawira shares.
Beyond the Rescue
Once safely at ground level, SI Indrawira asked the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedics to check on the elderly man. But his work wasn’t finished – he rejoined his team to continue evacuating residents from the remaining floors.
Even as the rescue unfolded, other Police officers at the scene played a part in the operation’s overall success. Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Mohamed Farhan Bin Samsudin and Sergeant (Sgt) Noorul Nadiah Binte Hairon Hanwar from Geylang NPC arrived and took on the task of accounting for every resident.
“I moved from group to group, carefully verifying the number of people in each unit,” explains Sgt Nadiah. “It wasn't just about numbers – it was about lives.”
Her 15 years of experience proved invaluable in managing the frightened residents. “A few were visibly worried about whether their units would be affected. I reassured them that their safety was the priority,” she shares.
The incident required close coordination between 17 officers from Bedok and Geylang NPCs who worked seamlessly to evacuate residents, account for every occupant and coordinate the emergency response with the SCDF and community partners.
By 11.59pm, the SCDF were able to confirm that all residents had been safely evacuated.
Reflections on Duty
Asked about the rescue, SI Indrawira shared that the experience had reinforced important lessons about being prepared. “At home now, I make it a point for my family to know where our fire extinguishers are and to have an evacuation plan,” he says. “It’s better to prepare than to repair.”
The incident has also made a lasting impact on the other officers. SSSgt Ahmad shares that it had reminded him, “of the reason why I don the uniform.” Similarly, SSSgt Sui feels, “relieved that there were no casualties and all the residents were evacuated safely.”
As for SI Indrawira, he remains focused on the fact that he’d simply done his duty: “I don’t see myself as a hero. I was just doing my part as a Police officer – to protect and save lives.”
