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Nov 8, 2009
Maid rescued from burning flat <!--10 min-->
Firemen break gate padlock to free Filipina trapped in fourth-storey flat in Balestier <!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Shuli Sudderuddin </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
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Town council workers installing new cables to restore electricity to units affected by yesterday's fire in Jalan Rajah. The flat was completely blackened except for the small threshold between the front gate and front door. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
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AS FLAMES engulfed a fourth-storey maisonette in Balestier, a panic-stricken maid trapped within screamed for help while neighbours tried in vain to free her. Firemen from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived within minutes of a call about the 1am blaze on Saturday, and managed to cut the padlock on the front gate to free the Filipino maid. Neighbours had tried throwing buckets of water at the blazing unit in Jalan Rajah. One used a hammer, but could not break open the front gate to free her. A neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, had heard shouting at the unit at about 1am. 'I thought there was a fight, but saw smoke billowing out,' said the 54-year-old engineer. He saw that the maid, who was alone, was at the gate and screaming for help amid the flames.
Nov 8, 2009
Maid rescued from burning flat <!--10 min-->
Firemen break gate padlock to free Filipina trapped in fourth-storey flat in Balestier <!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Shuli Sudderuddin </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
</td> <td width="10">
Town council workers installing new cables to restore electricity to units affected by yesterday's fire in Jalan Rajah. The flat was completely blackened except for the small threshold between the front gate and front door. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
</td></tr> </tbody></table>
AS FLAMES engulfed a fourth-storey maisonette in Balestier, a panic-stricken maid trapped within screamed for help while neighbours tried in vain to free her. Firemen from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived within minutes of a call about the 1am blaze on Saturday, and managed to cut the padlock on the front gate to free the Filipino maid. Neighbours had tried throwing buckets of water at the blazing unit in Jalan Rajah. One used a hammer, but could not break open the front gate to free her. A neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, had heard shouting at the unit at about 1am. 'I thought there was a fight, but saw smoke billowing out,' said the 54-year-old engineer. He saw that the maid, who was alone, was at the gate and screaming for help amid the flames.
