Dad built everything at home, says son of carpenter who died in fire

When his father did not return home for dinner on Sept 19, his mother waited with concern. But it was not unusual for Mr Lim Choon Siew, 65, to dine out after work and have drinks with friends, said his younger son, Mr Lin Qiyang.

- Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

At about midnight, the police came knocking at the family's home in Hougang, bringing tragic news - Mr Lim, a carpenter, was one of two victims of a fire that ravaged a signage shop, Amen International, at an industrial building in Kaki Bukit Road 4.

Mr Lin told The Straits Times at his father's wake on Sept 22: “My mother has been unstable since the fire and can't sleep. My older brother and I have to be strong for her. But I have many questions about the incident.”

The distraught 28-year-old, who works in the technology and sales industry, said he wants to know if a fire alarm or sprinkler system had been triggered by the fire, and whether the two victims heard the fire alarm if it had gone off.

The blaze on the fifth floor of the Synergy@KB building occurred just before 1pm, witnesses told ST.