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Case Study Example: Fire Hazards (ensure case study happen in urban areas only)

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Case Study Example: Fire Hazards (ensure case study happen in urban areas only)

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Causes

Impacts

Example (place, country, year and 1 photo) What happened?

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In groups of 3, each group will only need to research on ONE aspect

(eg. causes of fire hazard + 1 eg + environmental impact)

Research on

1. Causes of hazard (air / traffic / fire)

2. Impacts of the hazard (social, environmental & economic)

3. Provide 1 example (place, country, year) include ONE photo

4. Provide ONE group data only. Research graph / infographics / charts / etc. that shows the extent of the hazard.

Conclude: In your group, decide which hazard is the worst and justify your choice.

Be ready to share!

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Read other posts and answer: Which hazard is the worst for urban neighbourhoods? Justify.

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Read other posts and answer: Which hazard is the worst for urban neighbourhoods? Justify.

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Examples

Causes:

human activities - smoking, vaping, burning of joss paper

transportation - exhaust from public transport and vehicles, private cars

industrial processes - release pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, ammonia and mercury

power generation - burning of fossil fuels and coal releases air pollutants

Impacts:

lung disease/lung cancer

asthma

eye and skin irritation

animals would breathe in the air pollutants and might be fatal

plants would not take in enough carbon dioxide and photosynthesise into oxygen at a fast rate

Examples:

Place - Singapore

Country - Singapore

Year - 2024

What happened - Air pollutants increases the amount of PM2.5 and HVOC, which would lead to premature deaths of 135000000 people globally according to NTU researches.

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Causes:

Air pollution stems from various sources, including burning fossil fuels, industrial emissions, transportation, agricultural activities, wildfires, and even natural events like volcanic eruptions, releasing harmful gases and particles into the atmosphere.

Impacts:

Air pollution poses significant risks to human health and the environment, leading to respiratory problems, cardiovascular issues, and increased mortality, while also contributing to climate change and ecosystem damage.

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Cooking: Unattended cooking with grease or oil, is a major contributor to home fires.

Electrical Issues: Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, or malfunctioning appliances can spark fires.

Flammable Materials: Improper storage or handling of flammable liquids, gases, or materials can lead to fires.

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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-wildfires-what-we-know-palisades-eaton-los-angeles-rcna188239

first outbreak was on the January 7th in LA, California.

"However, in the case of the Eaton fire, legal cases have been filed against the electrical company, Southern California Edison Company (SCE), claiming there is evidence that the blaze - one of the largest - was ignited due to negligence of the firm's overhead wires."

"Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted on Jan. 7 and roared across the Los Angeles area, killing at least 29 people, including some who died trying to prevent the fires from engulfing their homes, and destroying thousands of structures."

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Traffic accidents can be caused by:

-the drivers drunk-driving

-speeding

-road rage

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The 2013 Little India Riot:

One of the most notable traffic-related incidents in Singapore was the 2013 Little India Riot, which started as a fatal traffic accident before escalating into a violent riot.

What Happened?

On 8 December 2013, an Indian construction worker, Sakthivel Kumaravelu, was hit and killed by a private bus at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road in Little India. The accident occurred as he was allegedly intoxicated and trying to board the bus, but fell into its path. His death sparked anger among a large crowd of foreign workers, which eventually led to Singapore's worst public riot in over 40 years.

Causes of the Traffic Accident

1. Human Error: The victim was reportedly intoxicated and may have been unsteady when trying to board the bus.

2. Crowded Conditions: Little India is a hotspot for migrant workers on weekends, leading to congestion and potential safety hazards.

3. Bus Driver’s Response: There was confusion over whether the driver saw the victim in time to stop.

Impacts of the Accident and Riot

1. Casualties and Damage:

54 people were arrested.

39 police, civil defence, and auxiliary officers were injured.

Over 20 vehicles were damaged or burned, including police cars and ambulances.

2. Stricter Alcohol Regulations:

The Singapore government introduced alcohol restrictions in Little India, banning public consumption of alcohol on weekends and public holidays.

3. Increased Security and Transport Policies:

Tighter security measures were implemented in worker dormitories and areas where large numbers of foreign workers gathered.

Public bus services ferrying workers from dormitories to Little India were temporarily suspended.

4. Legal and Social Consequences:

Several rioters faced criminal charges and were either jailed, fined, or deported.

The incident highlighted tensions between Singapore's migrant worker community and local authorities, leading to discussions on better treatment and integration of foreign workers.

This case is a stark reminder of how a single traffic accident can escalate due to external factors like crowd emotions, alcohol consumption, and poor crisis management, leading to major societal consequences.

Link: The night chaos broke out: Little India riot, 10 years on

The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com › multimedia › the-night-c...

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The common causes of traffic hazards are drunk driving and speeding.

The impacts of drunk driving are death and injuries.

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Almost every organ in the body can be impacted by air pollution. Due to their small size, some air pollutants are able to penetrate into the bloodstream through the lungs and circulate throughout the entire body leading to systemic inflammation and carcinogenicity.

Air pollution is a risk for all-cause mortality as well as specific diseases, like stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, pneumonia, and cataract (household air pollution only).

There is suggestive evidence also linking air pollution exposure with increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes (i.e. low-birth weight, small for gestational age), other cancers, diabetes, cognitive impairment and neurological diseases.

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1. Human Health and Safety

Injury or Death: Fires can cause burns, smoke inhalation, and other serious injuries. In severe cases, fires can lead to fatalities.

Evacuations: Large-scale fires may require evacuations, displacing thousands of people and disrupting daily life.

2. Property and Infrastructure Damage

Destruction of Buildings: Homes, businesses, and public buildings can be completely destroyed, leading to huge repair and reconstruction costs.

Damage to Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, power lines, and utilities may be damaged, disrupting essential services for communities.

3. Economic Impact

Property Damage Costs: The financial toll of rebuilding after a fire can be immense, especially in urban areas or industries reliant on physical infrastructure.

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Major fire breaks out at Kolkata airport, blaze under control; none injured

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Hougang flat PMD fire: ‘I told my wife to throw our daughter out the window so I could catch her’

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Before throwing her down, woman tells daughter: “I’m going to throw you to Papa, I love you.” Read more at straitstimes.com.

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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/driver-killed-in-high-speed-car-crash-on-nicoll-highway-was-director-of-chee-song-foods

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example of air pollution : great smog of London

it was a lethal fog that covered city of London for 5 days in 1952 and was caused by the combination of industrial pressure and high pressure weather conditions and resulted in 1000s of death.

These hazes were not natural formations of the atmosphere: water vapor would stick to particulates released by coal-burning factories, producing dark and heavy clouds that impaired visibility. This variety of fog later came to be known as smog

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A drunk driver, Yoong Kok Kai, caused an accident in 2023 that left auxiliary police officer Ng Yi Shu in a vegetative state. Yoong was speeding and lost control of his car. He was sentenced in 2025 to nearly four years in jail and a 10-year driving ban.

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Jail for man who caused ‘senseless, tragic’ accident that left auxiliary cop in vegetative state

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An intoxicated Yoong Kok Kai drove for about 27km before losing control of his car at Tuas Checkpoint. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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Major Sources of Air Pollution:

Fossil Fuel Combustion:

This is the primary driver, including emissions from vehicles, power plants, and industrial activities.

Household Air Pollution:

Burning solid fuels (wood, coal, etc.) for cooking and heating in homes, especially in developing countries, contributes significantly to indoor and outdoor pollution.

Industrial Activities:

Factories, refineries, and other industrial facilities release pollutants into the air.

Agriculture:

Agricultural practices, including fertilizer use and livestock farming.

Transportation:

Motor vehicles, especially older models, emit harmful pollutants.

Natural Sources:

Dust storms, forest fires, and volcanic eruptions.

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The Joo Koon rail accident, sometimes referred to as the Joo Koon train collision, was a crash which happened on 15 November 2017, when a C151A train travelling at 16 kilometres per hour (9.9 mph) rear-ended a stationary C151A train at Joo Koon station on the East–West MRT line, resulting in 38 injuries. It was caused by a signalling issue.

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electrical failures

for example PMDs

faulty battery or wiring.

over charging or improper charging.

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lithium ion batteries catching fire

faulty electrical appliances

overcharging (of batteries) and improper charging

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Due to the rise in buildings, there have been more things for the fire grow and when it gets big enough, it will be very difficult to put out the fire and it will grow and burn down a lot of buildings and it will also cost a lot of money for the government to rebuild it while polluting the earth. Many people will also lose their homes in the processs

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Causes: human-made

- vehicle emissions

- industrial activites

- burning of fossil fuels

- burning of waste products

- deforestation

natural-causes:

-wildfires

-dust storms

-volcanic eruptions

-natural decay

Impacts:

increase in greenhouse gases in the ozone layer, causing more heat to be trapped in the atmosphere. This causes global warming and may cause effects such as glaciers and icebergs melting.

inhalation of these pollutants in the air may cause respiratory-related health problems like lung cancer and asthma and heart disease.

increased presence of pollutants in the atmosphere may also lead to increase in acid rainfall and toxicity of these rainfalls, causing property damage and also skin issues to humans when in contact.

Example (place, country, year and 1 photo) What happened?

On June 5, 2009, a catastrophic landslide killed 74 people in southwestern China. Increase in air pollutants lead to an increased acid rainfall. The acid rain dissolved the cementing carbonate minerals and organic materials in the shale, weakening the layers and causing a landslide.0

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Asia had highest number of premature deaths in the world for decades due to air pollution: NTU study

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Mr Asif fractured both heels from jumping out of the window to escape. His daughter sustained a hairline fracture on her skull. His wife who threw the daughter down to safe her got second-degree burns on her hands. Mr Asif got nine screws inserted into his heels and he used a wheelchair for 6 weeks.

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we think electrical hazards are the worst because it can happen in households and while people are sleeping leaving them with little time to escape and react

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Place: Loyang data centre

Country: Singapore

Year: 2024

Incident: A fire broke out at a data centre in Loyang on Tuesday morning (Sep 10), with firefighters continuing to conduct operations a day after it started. The fire at the Digital Realty data centre at 3 Loyang Way broke out at about 7.45am, the company said, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the incident at 8am. SCDF deployed four water jets to contain the fire. The sprinkler system was also activated. About 20 people had evacuated from the building before firefighters arrived and there were no reported injuries.

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service disruptions: the connectivity of the products became worse

prolonged firefighting operations: SCDF operations lasted more than 36 hours

20 people had to be evacuated

building and construction authority(BCA)issued a dangerous Building Order for certain floors, restricting access.

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I believe fire is the worst hazard due to its rapid spread, destruction, and death rate. It causes severe burns, smoke inhalation, and property damage. Fire can happen when people are asleep and is one of the most scary hazards

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In my opinion, I feel like fire hazards are the worst type of hazards as it has the worst type of lasting impact on everybody. Moreover, it has the simplest causes of the hazard, making it extremely easy for it to occur in everyday life.

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traffic hazard is the worst and theres even pollution by it so its more dangerous to peoples health.

it is also unexpected and theres high chances the accident may be fatal

there are many common encounters that impact everyone negatively

air pollution and fires impact everyone as a whole so more people are prepared for it and can take action( eg: government takes action during high haze )

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i feel that fire hazards in households are the worst because it directly impacts us severely like damaging our homes and spaces that we need

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Fire is the worst hazard among the three because it spreads rapidly, causes severe burns, destroys property, and can be fatal within minutes. Unlike air hazards, which often have long-term health effects, and traffic hazards, which depend on human actions and road conditions, fire is unpredictable and difficult to control once it starts. It can also trigger secondary hazards like explosions and toxic smoke, making it even more dangerous. While air pollution and traffic accidents are serious concerns, fire poses an immediate and devastating threat to both life and property, making it the most critical hazard to prevent and manage.

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i think fire hazards is the worst hazard as a fire can be very hard to control and deadly, it can spread very quickly and be hard to escape unscathed.

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the fire hazards affects the people around the fire and in the houses not just the fire in the house that started

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i think traffic hazard is the worst because the chances of it occurring in everyday life is higher as use of cars increase. we dont see fires and air pollution often but there is at least some accident occurring everyday as we see traffic congestion often.

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In my opinion, electrical fires are the worst because they can happen in households and places with electrical hazards. Also, it could happen when people are asleep and by the time they wake up and realise that there is a fire, it could be late for them to react and flee or call for help.

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vehicles are a major source of air pollution, emitting harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM), which can negatively impact human health and the environment. due to the large number of people who own cars, individuals with heart or lung disease, as well as the elderly and children, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. long-term exposure to air pollution from vehicles can lead to decreased lung function, chronic bronchitis, stroke, and premature death.

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I think air pollution is the worst hazard as

if air pollution is not treated immediately, eventually air pollution could kill all life on earth

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I think that fire hazards are the worst because they cause a lot of problems such as pollution and death. It will also cost the government a lot of money to rebuild the house as well as find a place for the people that lives in the burnt down house another place to live

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i think fire hazard is the worst hazard. This is because when fire gets out of control, everything will be burnt down and nothing will be left. Once the fire gets to a certain extent, it will not be able to be supressed

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Unlike the other hazards, fire hazards will always cause damage to both properties and persons when these incidents occur

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I think that traffic hazards are the worst as it is caused by irresponsible drivers who speed, drunk-drive or have road rage. there is aa high chance of severe injuries or death and property damage when an accident happens.

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I think Traffic hazards are the most hazardous hazard as it is one of the most common and it contributes to air pollution and fire hazards

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Most traffic accidents may cause fire and burning. This causes people do be prone to inhaling the smoke. When fire is present, air pollutants such as greenhouse gases into the air. Traffic hazards thus causes Air pollution and Fire hazards.

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i think traffic hazard is the worst out of the 3 as i feel that the number of accidents is still increasing until now and there is limited amount of things we can do to prevent it, unlike fire hazards and air pollution

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I believe fire is the worst hazard as it spreads rapidly and can cause massive destruction to buildings and environment. It also impacts people as lives may be taken.

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i think fire hazards are the worst among all three, this is because fire can happen at any time and at any where giving people little to no time to react if they were caught in a burning building. Another reason is because fires can kill you instantly without u knowing

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fire harzard is the worst for urban neighbourhoods as it takes away innocent lives.

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In my opinion, drunk driving is the worst hazard. This is because it not only affects the life of that reckless individual but also affects the lives of others. Drunk driving can lead to severe injuries or even death.

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i feel that the fire hazard is the worst hazard since it is lif threatening in highly polpulated areas