SINGAPORE - A fire involving waste materials in a warehouse in Pioneer broke out on Saturday morning (June 18). 

A total of 13 emergency vehicles and about 50 firefighters, including those from the Special Rescue Unit, were deployed in a two-hour operation to bring the fire under control. 

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to the fire at 23 Gul Drive at about 8.25am.

When SCDF personnel arrived, the fire was raging in the warehouse, which measures about 20m by 40m.

SCDF's photos of the fire showed large plumes of dark smoke billowing from the burning structure.

Firefighters deployed water and foam jets around the premises to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading.

When the fire was contained, they moved into the warehouse and used an unmanned firefighting machine and five foam jets.

SCDF said the fire was brought under control in two hours, and burnt surfaces are being damped down to prevent a rekindling of flames.

There are no reported injuries as at 10.20am.

When The Straits Times arrived on the scene at 10.45am, firefighting operations were ongoing, with at least six emergency vehicles seen. The area was cordoned off and the roads were closed. 

Workers from nearby buildings said they saw black fumes rising at 8.20am, followed by explosions.

The authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.

In January this year, another fire – the size of a football field – had broken out at a building in the same industrial area. 

Twenty emergency vehicles and about 70 firefighters were deployed to contain the fire at 5 Gul Lane. About 40 workers were evacuated.

The SCDF responded to 343 fire incidents at commercial and industrial premises last year.