SINGAPORE — Firefighters will get enhanced powers to shut down premises found to have fire hazards and go after recalcitrant offenders after Parliament approved changes to the Fire Safety Act yesterday. The Act was last amended in 2004.

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said yesterday that the changes will allow the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to close buildings which pose a fire hazard for up to 72 hours.

Previously, such a closure order must be rescinded once the fire hazard is abated. It can also only be imposed if the safety of people within the premises “cannot be reasonably ensured by any other means”.

Mr Masagos noted it would be used only as a “matter of last resort”, with the SCDF relying on other measures such as fines and court-imposed closure orders to compel premise owners to put in place required abatement and mitigation measures.

He also stressed that the new law would apply only to recalcitrant offenders who have had three or more court convictions for fire hazard offences during the past 24 months.

Penalties will also go up to a maximum of S$200,000 and/or 24 months’ imprisonment, compared to the existing fine of S$50,000 and/or 12 months’ imprisonment. This, said Mr Masagos, would put it in line with similar offences under the Building Control Act.

Building and pipeline owners of petroleum and flammable materials will also have to step up their responses to emergencies.

The current Fire Emergency Plan will be expanded to include plans not just for fires, but also fire-related emergencies such as gas and chemical leaks. It will be renamed as the Emergency Response Plan.