River Valley fire: SCDF finds safety breaches; URA says only first floor approved for use as children's enrichment centre
SCDF says preliminary findings show that fire safety breaches at the three-storey shophouse included unauthorised partitions.
The exterior of the three-storey shophouse at 278 River Valley Road where a fire broke out on Apr 8, 2025. (Photo: CNA/ Ili Nadhirah Mansor)
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SINGAPORE: Fire safety breaches were found at the River Valley shophouse that caught fire on Tuesday (Apr 8), said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
"Preliminary findings are that the fire likely originated from an area used for storage on the second storey of the three-storey shophouse,"Â SCDF said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
"Preliminary investigations also found fire safety non-compliances, including unauthorised works involving the erection of partitions within the premises."Â
Only the first floor of the three-storey shophouse was approved for use as a children's enrichment centre, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said on Wednesday.
The upper two floors, as well as the attic, are approved for residential use.
URA said investigations are ongoing. Anyone found guilty of unauthorised use of premises may be fined up to S$200,000 (US$150,000).
The building houses the enrichment centre Newtonshow Camp. There are signs outside the shophouse belonging to several brands listed on Newtonshow's website, including Tomato Cooking School, theatre school Drama Llama and coding school Maker.
A total of 22 people were taken to hospital, including 16 children, were taken to hospitals after the fire broke out on Tuesday morning. A 10-year-old Australian girl subsequently died.
Videos posted on social media show children sitting on a third-storey ledge as plumes of black smoke billow.
Bystanders, including some construction workers, were seen using scaffolding and a ladder to reach them.
Tomato Cooking School issued a statement on Facebook on Wednesday, saying it was fully cooperating with the authorities' investigations into the fire.
The shophouse at 278 River Valley Road is one of the addresses of Newtonshow Camp.
The enrichment centre also has two other locations along River Valley Road, as well as locations on Mohamed Sultan Road, Bukit Timah Road, Joo Chiat Road and Thomson Road.
SCDF said investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.Â
"SCDF takes a very serious view of fire safety non-compliances, as they pose significant risks to lives and property," it added.
"The responsible entity may face a fine of up to S$200,000, imprisonment of up to 24 months, or both."
