Do you remember the Pulau Merlimau fire in 1988? Pulau Merlimau is now what is know as the Jurong Islands and the refinery fire lasted for four days. Ed writes about his memories of the fire that “chilled many spines of Singaporeans“.
Picture from the National Archives of Singapore
I began to recall the very first day of the fire. I was staying at Block 512, Jurong West Street 52. That’s like, directly opposite Rulang Primary School. Behind my place, was the old Jurong Police Station which is now vacated. MRT was a very new development in Jurong in those times too. Chinese Garden was one of the “big thang” as well, like Haw Par Villa.
For a while I thought a massive rainstorm was approaching. I was only a primary school kid, so I could only relate the blood-red sky to those we commonly see on rainy nights. I also remembered I was staring into the sky for a long time, because I had the privilege of staying on the high floors. I was staying on the 10th storey, to be exact. It wasn’t just a small patch of redness, but the entire sky outlining the rooftop of the opposite block.
Does anybody else remember the Pulau Merlimau fire? Read Ed’s description here.
2 Responses
Hi Noel, thank you very much for featuring my account of the fire. I wished I could find more of the pictures.
Posted on July 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I remmember that day, it was when CD newly intergrated with Fire service.I was young at that time and I felt it was great experience for me. I am proud to serve the country without fear not knowing that it was the most dangerous mission ever encounter.When we reach at the jetty we all done our limited PPE fire jacket without lagging visor with no fire resistance of cos our fire boots and BA. There’s the boat waiting to ferry us to the island and on the way proceeding to the island all the public near the jetty wave us like we are going to the war.I felt very touching at the same time I am thinking that am I be able to come back to my family or this is my final destination.Upon arrival the ground commander told us if we hear long continueous siren we have to take cover any place that is safe if possible jump to the sea because when the fuel explode we have no chance to live.Thank God we managed to extinguished the raging fire and I live till I retired.
Posted on July 26th, 2011 at 11:32 pm
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