9-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) A fire erupted in a Housing Board flat located in Sembawang on Sunday morning, resulting in two individuals being sent to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for treatment.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received an alert about the fire at Block 508A Wellington Circle at approximately 1:40 a.m. Upon arrival, SCDF personnel encountered thick black smoke emanating from a unit on the second floor.
Fortunately, four occupants of the affected unit had already evacuated before SCDF’s arrival. Two of them were subsequently transported to SGH to receive medical attention for smoke inhalation and burn injuries, according to SCDF.
As a precautionary measure, around 80 residents from the affected block were also evacuated from their homes.
Wearing breathing apparatus equipment, firefighters from Yishun Fire Station entered the smoke-filled unit. They successfully extinguished the fire, which had been confined to a bedroom, using a water jet, SCDF reported.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire likely originated from the battery of a power-assisted bicycle that was being charged in the bedroom, SCDF added.
This incident follows a similar fire in a Sengkang flat in May, during which three individuals were hospitalized. That fire was believed to have started from the battery pack of a personal mobility device (PMD) that was being charged in the living room. In 2021 alone, there were 32 reported fires involving PMDs and 23 incidents involving power-assisted bicycles.
SCDF took the opportunity to remind the public to take precautions to prevent PMD fires. It advised against leaving charging devices unattended for an extended period or overnight, as well as cautioned against purchasing or using non-original batteries.
