Toa Payoh flat fire likely caused by PMD battery, 2 sent to hospital

Two people were sent to the hospital after a fire broke out in the living room of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat in Toa Payoh on May 14 night.

The fire likely originated from a personal mobility device (PMD) battery, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post.

Two taken to hospital after fire broke out

Firefighters from Bishan Fire Station responded to the fire at Block 226 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh at around 10:50pm.

Upon arrival, the SCDF team found the living room of a 10th storey flat on fire.

Firefighters conducted forcible entry into the smoke-filled unit and put out the fire with a water jet.

During the operation, firefighters rescued a person from inside a bedroom of the unit.

The person was assessed to have smoke inhalation and burn injuries, and was conveyed to Singapore General Hospital.

About 30 persons from the neighbouring units were evacuated by the police and SCDF.

A person from a 14-storey unit experienced breathlessness and was conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

PMD battery a likely cause

Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire had likely originated from a PMD battery in the living room, said SCDF.

A resident who lived opposite the affected unit told Shin Min Daily News that her husband smelled an odour that resembled a burning engine.

The unit is occupied by a middle-aged man and his wife, she said.

As her husband went out to check, he was asked to evacuate.

During the evacuation, some neighbours tried knocking on the door of the affected unit, but no one answered, so they thought no one was home until SCDF broke into the house and found the man inside.

The man's neighbour said that after the man was rescued, he looked very weak and was inhaling through an oxygen mask as he was brought into the ambulance.

The neighbour added that she understood that when the fire broke out, the man's wife had not yet returned from work.

Fire safety tips

In light of the fire, SCDF provided fire safety tips such as:

• do not purchase or use non-original batteries for your active mobility devices, including PMDs and powered assisted bicycles (PABs)
• do not charge PMD/PAB batteries for an extended period of time or overnight
• do not charge the PMD/PAB immediately after use, or near combustible materials
• do not tamper with, modify, or attempt to repair a device on your own
• regularly examine batteries for any damage or deformities

Top image from SCDF/Facebook