A fire tore through stored boats and equipment at East Coast Park on Thursday afternoon, producing a tower of black smoke that motorists could see from the East Coast Parkway. The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it was alerted at about 3.20 p.m. and put out the flames with two water jets.

What SCDF confirmed

The blaze involved the contents of a boat storage compound inside the park, not a residential block. SCDF did not estimate a dollar value for the damage and said the cause remains under investigation. National Parks Board and police spokespeople had not released a separate statement by early evening.

After crews stood down, one firefighter felt unwell and was taken to Singapore General Hospital as a precaution, SCDF said. The force did not describe the symptoms or whether the officer had been inside a smoke plume, but the hospital trip signals commanders are treating heat and chemical exposure seriously on a humid afternoon when haze had already reduced visibility elsewhere on the island.

What witnesses saw

Photos and videos shared online showed thick smoke rising above tree lines near the seafront. A motorist who spoke to The Straits Times on condition of anonymity said she noticed the plume while driving on the expressway around 3.20 p.m. and initially thought regional haze had worsened before realizing it was a localized fire.

A live clip on TikTok around 4 p.m. appeared to show a firefighter being supported away from the scene by another responder. At least three fire engines, police officers and SCDF personnel were visible in the area in footage reviewed by newsrooms. The Straits Times said it had contacted police and NParks for additional detail.

Park operations and traffic

East Coast Park is one of Singapore’s busiest waterfront recreation zones, linking cycling paths, food outlets and marina facilities. A mid-afternoon fire there inevitably draws crowds even when cordons are in place, complicating access for emergency vehicles along narrow service roads.

Authorities did not announce a full park closure, but any prolonged investigation inside the compound could disrupt boat owners and vendors during the school-holiday period. SCDF typically partners with NParks to assess environmental runoff when fuel or fibreglass burns near coastal drains.

What investigators will check

Marine storage fires often hinge on electrical faults in shore-power hookups, hot work on hulls, or improperly stored fuel and solvents. SCDF fire investigators will map the burn pattern, interview compound operators and review maintenance logs.

Because a responder required medical observation, internal safety reviewers may also examine breathing-apparatus use and rotation schedules. For the public, the immediate question is whether the smoke contained toxic residues from burning fibreglass or fuel; SCDF has not issued a health advisory beyond the localized plume.

Next steps

Police will assist if arson or negligence is suspected, but no criminal allegation has been disclosed. Boat owners with property in the compound should expect NParks or the operator to contact them once the site is safe to enter. SCDF said it will release further updates if the inquiry produces findings on origin or if the hospitalized firefighter’s condition changes.