An air-con unit in the bedroom of a heritage terrace house along Towner Road caught fire on Wednesday (Oct 18) afternoon, sending black smoke rising into the air.

There were no reported injuries. DCTV understands that the house was unoccupied and a tenant was due to move in on the day the fire occurred when the agent turned on the electricity.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire at 104 Towner Road at 2.19pm, and put it out using a water jet and a compressed air foam backpack.

Our reporter, Patrick was on the scene as the SCDF were finishing putting out the fire. He noted that the doors from the room the air-conditioning unit that burst into flames was believed to be in, were scorched with black marks. Also, the balcony of the heritage terrace was stained black by the handprint of a member of the SCDF.

Ms Cheryl Huan, chief operating officer of Far East Organization's corporate real estate business group, said in a statement on Wednesday evening that the house was being prepared for handover to an incoming tenant when the fire occurred. 

The colonial-style terrace house is part of the historic Townerville estate, which consists of six blocks of 84 two-storey units built in the 1920s.

Known for their distinct features such as high ceilings, open-air courtyards and picture rails, they were restored by the government at a cost of $12.4 million in 1990.

Far East Organization bought all 84 houses for $39 million that same year in an open tender, and currently leases them out for commercial and residential use.

You can watch the video interview with Mr Germain Araud, resident of the house next door to the fire on the video section of the article page.