A Board of Inquiry will also be convened under the Civil Defence Act, to review the incident.
“Since the BOI is also a fact-finding body, it will be held after the coroner’s findings are established. The BOI will then also be able to consider the police and the coroner’s findings, in its assessment of the matter,” said Assoc Prof Faishal.
“The BOI will submit its report to the Minister for Home Affairs and we will share the Board’s findings and recommendations at an appropriate juncture.”
On Jan 9, Assoc Prof Faishal revealed that a fire engine accessway leading to the Henderson Road block where the fire broke out was blocked by a funeral wake tent, leading to an 18-minute delay in firefighters’ response to the blaze.
He added that SGT1 Go had attended to nearly 60 fire and rescue calls since he was posted to Central Fire Station in May last year, and his performance as a trainee was among the top 25 per cent of his cohort.
To a supplementary question by MP Dennis Tan (WP-Hougang) on the coroner’s findings, Assoc Prof Faishal confirmed that they would be made public when ready.