A man was spotted on the fifth-storey ledge of the Synergy@KB Industrial Building, attempting to extinguish a fire with a water hose on 19 September. The fire tragically claimed the lives of two men in a unit opposite the one that caught fire on the fifth floor. Videos from the scene showed the man, later identified as Ridwan Ash-Siddiq, a 42-year-old car paint shop owner, holding a water hose as thick smoke billowed and flames engulfed the unit.
Background
The fire at the Synergy@KB Industrial Building resulted in the deaths of two men and caused significant damage. Ridwan Ash-Siddiq, who owns a car paint shop on the third floor, was one of the first to respond to the blaze. His actions were captured in videos that circulated online, showing him attempting to combat the fire with a water hose amidst thick smoke and intense flames.
Tried his best
Ridwan shared on his Facebook page that he did what he felt was necessary at the time. He and his supervisor tried to spray water with the hose, but the smoke was unbearable. In an attempt to put out the fire from the back of the unit, Ridwan climbed onto the ledge. He acknowledged the danger of his actions but stated, “But at times we don’t think when it comes to certain situations… my generation takes risks first…. not take videos first.”
Did not hesitate
In an interview with Shin Min Daily News, Ridwan recounted hearing employees alerting each other about the fire. With firefighters and police yet to arrive, he rushed to help with a hose he found. The thick smoke made breathing difficult, prompting him to fight the fire from the back. “To get to the back of the unit, I had to climb out of the window. I didn’t think much about it, I just climbed out with the hose and sprayed water at the burning unit. But it really didn’t work,” he said. Ridwan described hearing explosions and feeling blasts of hot air. He was outside for about three to five minutes before crawling back in when firefighters arrived.
Wife found out about his heroic act online
Ridwan did not initially inform his family of his actions. His wife learned about it when a video was posted online. “She was very worried, but she also understood my character and was glad that I was fine,” Ridwan said. Despite some criticism for not prioritising his own safety, he insisted that he simply wanted to help and prevent others from getting hurt. Fortunately, his shop did not sustain any damage from the fire, and they were able to resume business the following day.
Community response and future implications
The incident has sparked discussions about the importance of quick thinking and community response in emergencies. While Ridwan’s actions were risky, they highlight the instinct to help others in dire situations. The fire’s cause is under investigation, with preliminary findings suggesting it was electrical. This tragedy underscores the need for stringent safety measures in industrial buildings to prevent future incidents.
