Petrol Mercedes catches fire at Sime Underpass; SCDF puts out blaze, no injuries
A Mercedes-Benz C-Class caught fire at Sime Underpass near Adam Road at about 4.55pm on 26 September 2026, AsiaOne reported on 27 September. The report stressed that the car was a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) model, not an electric vehicle.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told AsiaOne its firefighters used a water jet and a hosereel to put out the fire. No injuries were reported, and the cause is under investigation.
A video shared with the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page showed smoke and flames coming from under the front bonnet. The flames later spread into the cabin.
The fire came two days after an electric car caught fire in a Marine Parade car park, an incident that drew attention to EV battery risks. The Sime Underpass case is a reminder that petrol and diesel vehicles catch fire too. SCDF’s annual figures, cited by AsiaOne in its earlier report, recorded 226 vehicle fires in Singapore in 2025, of which only four involved EVs.
Common causes of ICE vehicle fires include fuel or oil leaks onto hot engine parts, electrical faults and overheating, although no cause has been given for this case.
Practical lessons for fleet operators and drivers:
Keep up with scheduled servicing, and have any fuel smell, oil leak, warning light or burning smell checked straight away rather than at the next service.
Make sure aftermarket electrical work, such as extra lighting, cameras or charging sockets, is done by a qualified workshop.
Carry a working fire extinguisher, particularly in vans and lorries, and train drivers on when not to use it: if the fire is under the bonnet or spreading, the priority is to stop safely, switch off, get everyone out, move well away and call 995.
Do not open the bonnet of a burning engine bay, as the rush of air can feed the fire.
After any vehicle fire, inform your insurer promptly and keep photos and workshop records, which will help with any claim or investigation.
Source: AsiaOne — Read the original
