SINGAPORE – The lunch rush was building at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre on Jan 2 when Western fusion stall hawker Eddy Wan caught a glimpse of flames leaping from the stove of the zi char stall opposite.

At first, the 45-year-old thought nothing of it and even remarked to his wife that the 80-year-old hawker of Ho Kee Seafood was cooking with serious fire for wok hei at his age.

Seconds later, as he turned to plate an order, the flames shot higher.