A parked taxi on fire was seen at Bedok yesterday (Aug 28). Hungry Ghost Festival offerings were seen under it, but could this have been a prank gone wrong or an act of revenge, wonders STOMPers CCK and MK.

STOMPer CCK, who tried to put out the fire, said:

"I was with my friend heading back home at Bedok.

"When I walked past Yu Neng Primary School, I saw smoke coming out of a taxi at the parking lot.

"I went closer to take a look and noticed that the back of a taxi was on fire, with incense paper burning below.

"The fire wasn't so big yet so I tried to extinguish it with the little amount of water I had, but it didn't work.

"Many onlookers were there, some taking pictures, and some calling the police. There was nothing else I could do to help, and it would be too late to go to the nearby shop to get water.

"So there was nothing else I could do but to move back in case the car blows. After awhile, there was a small explosion from the car.

"Help arrived in around 5 minutes. Fire engines came and firemen started to extinguish the fire. It took a while for the fire to be completely extinguished. The whole place became hazy due to the fire.

"But what could have started the fire? Why was there incense paper burning below the car?

"Could it be some pranksters that think that it is fun to put burning incense paper under the car when there is fuel inside the car?

"Or is it because the taxi driver had offended someone? Thus the person wants to 'offer him incense paper'?

"I feel that this type of behaviour is very inconsiderate. The taxi driver must have been stunned when he sees his taxi. I hope that the culprit of the incident will be caught soon."

STOMPer MK also wrote:

"A taxi caught fire at Block 507 Bedok North Ave 3.

"The cause of the fire is yet to be known. It could be a stupid prank."