Some stray thoughts:
1. Outstanding performance of cabin crew in this incident and the China Airlines Okinawa incident , with no loss of life among crew and passengers, point to Immediate EVAC as the correct response to fire on ground. No harm done in NOT evacuating in the SQ case does not mean it was the best course of action in view of Most Probable Outcome scenarios.
The two above mentioned "real world" cases prove that in an emergency, even with all the chaos and passengers taking their luggage that IT WORKS. EVAC WORKS.
2. The ability of modern airliners being able to carry a lot of passenger luggage in overhead bins and thus freeing up cargo space for goods is resulting in freighter use being reduced. And All Cargo operations being greatly impacted.
And has resulted in passengers being able to carry off more and more and heavier and heavier luggage off aircraft in Emergencies.
We are not going to be able to stop passengers removing their luggage. It is human nature.
We need to look at REDUCING the ability to carry on baggage. Having smaller bins ,not BIGGER. Bigger bins result in more luggage being carried off and possibly falling out of bins.
Many airlines are charging for checking in bags. This should be reverse. There should instead be charges for hand carry. And strictly only small items should be allowed.
3. Tragic loss of life of the firefighter in this case. Any operational or procedural mistakes (if any) should be corrected . Fires are dangerous for all involved obviously.