81-year-old woman in Jurong West helps save HDB neighbors from fire

Madam Lim Ee Chin was commended for helping to extinguish a fire at a residential unit in Block 917 Jurong West Street 91 on Aug 9.PHOTOS: SINGAPORE CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE/FACEBOOK, SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS VIA STRAITS TIMES

SINGAPORE – An 81-year-old woman came to her neighbors’ rescue and helped them put out a fire in their Housing Board flat on August 9, even though she was scared of the raging flames.

For her bravery, Madam Lim Ee Chin received the Community First Responder Award on Aug 27, the SCDF said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

She is the oldest recipient of the award, which is presented to members of the public who have stepped forward to render assistance to others in distress or to save property or both.

“Despite her age, she did not hesitate to help put out the fire. Her selfless act has assisted to mitigate the damages and injuries caused by the fire,” said SCDF.

https://www.facebook.com/SCDFpage/posts/10157073714275583?__cft__[0]=AZU9vjCpSPpaf1YzVQk_GFB1IoIPPe22ZuQtv2MIfnrK3XitHBn4cavY7XkwWiIMUsshkzpdzy3mwNA8hHTZjWvpss6A2uHsJ0g1Np5SWyEsDes9e14SGkgw04sfC1QpWdVhk_hVSoq5DwkklVEosj2GTJ4N7kLvys9-BlDnOQeXBkLZNwk9QPju3zE2D_YoMzA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Two other neighbors also helped in extinguishing the fire but SCDF said they did not wish to be named and declined the award.

The fire Madam Lim helped put out had broken out at a corner residential unit of Block 917 Jurong West Street 91 at 11.20pm on August 9.

The fire involved contents of the living room, said the SCDF.

In a video accompanying the Facebook post, Madam Lim talked about how she passed two of her neighbors’ buckets of water from her flat to put out the fire, until the flames were under control.

All of this took place before SCDF personnel arrived on the scene.

In the aftermath of the fire, three people were taken to the Singapore General Hospital.

“Madam Lim’s action exemplified bravery and in her own words, the kampung spirit”, SCDF added.

Madam Lim said in the video that she was happy to receive the award and even showed it to her neighbors who teased her for “showing off.”