August 13, 2019 at 3:43pm

FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISH BLAZE AT SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM

A fire broke out at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) on Sunday, August 11. According to CNA, the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) was called to the institution, which is currently undergoing a renovation and is closed to the public, around 3 PM. “The fire involved construction materials and was extinguished by SCDF using one 38mm jet,” the agency said in a statement. It also confirmed that there weren’t any injuries and that an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

Located on Bras Basah Road, SAM’s main building was completed in 1855. The site was converted into a museum and opened in 1996. The institution announced that it would embark on a $90 million revamp—with the government providing $80 million of the needed funds—in 2017. The overhaul will include the addition of a bridge that will connect the museum’s two buildings—the original structure and the former Catholic High School across the street, which is now known as SAM at 8Q—and galleries that can accommodate large-scale artworks and multimedia works. The refurbishment is slated for completion in 2021.