On June 3, a Personal Mobility Device (PMD) caught on fire in a HDB lift at Woodlands Avenue 16, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in a Facebook post. 

The SCDF responded the fire on the second floor of the HDB block at 11:25pm last night. 

The fire was extinguished by members of the public using buckets of water prior to SCDF’s arrival.

A 20-year-old suffered from severe burn injuries and was conveyed to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. He was conscious when taken to the hospital but later died from his injuries, according to the police.

About 90 residents from the affected block were evacuated by the police as a precautionary measure.

SCDF said that preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire indicated that it was of electrical origin from the PMD.

Prevention of PMD fires

SCDF wants to remind the public how to prevent PMD fires with the following fire safety tips in the infographic. 

Image via SCDF.

They also warn that non-UL2272 PMDs and any form of modifications to PMDs pose a fire risk and threaten public safety.

SCDF said that owners of these devices are strongly encouraged to dispose of their devices at the appropriate recyclers.

From now till end of June 2021, owners may dispose of your PMDs at any KGS Pte Ltd collection point at no cost.

More details about this can be found on this website: https://www.kgs.com.sg/PMD-collection-program

Top images via SCDF.