Two SBS Transit bus captains have become local heroes after extinguishing a car fire in Ang Mo Kio early on the morning of 15 January 2024. The commendable actions of Lim Swee Shen and Liew Poh Chye have drawn widespread praise for their bravery and quick thinking.
Quick Response to Fire
At approximately 7.45am, Lim, while driving service 133, noticed smoke rising from a black BMW on Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. Without a second thought, he stopped his vehicle. “I saw the smoke and thought I needed to extinguish the fire quickly, else the situation might become more dangerous later,” Lim remarked. He ran towards the car armed with a fire extinguisher, preparing to combat the flames.
Teamwork Saves the Day
As Lim battled the blaze, Liew, driving service 71, arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. Lim’s fire extinguisher ran out, so Liew quickly handed over another extinguisher to continue the firefighting efforts. “I quickly asked the car driver to get a fire extinguisher from Liew’s bus,” Lim explained, stressing the need for swift action to prevent the fire from worsening.
Recognition from SCDF
Both bus captains received commendations from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), who will present them with the Community First Responder Award for their impressive response. Colonel Ellena Quek from the SCDF praised their swift and decisive actions, stating, “Their prompt use of fire extinguishers helped to prevent the situation from escalating and kept others safe.”
Community and Family Reactions
News of the incident, shared widely on social media, has drawn attention not only from the public but also from friends and family of the bus captains. Lim’s daughter even called him a hero after hearing about his actions. Similarly, Liew’s children expressed their pride, saying, “Dad, you’re awesome.” Lim remarked that it felt good to be recognised for doing the right thing.
Encouragement for Safety Training
Both bus captains noted that they take part in regular firefighting and first aid training as part of their roles. SBS Transit expressed pride in their staff’s actions and encouraged the public to engage in the SCDF Responders Plus Programme to learn vital lifesaving skills like CPR and basic firefighting.