S'pore govt looking at stiffer actions against owners, retailers of non-compliant PMDs, PMAs, after spate of residential fires

Following the recent spate of residential fires, the government is exploring various measures to enhance fire safety protection, said Minister of State for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Goh Pei Ming.

This would include stiffer actions against owners and retailers of non-compliant Active Mobility Devices (AMD).

AMDs include Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs), Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs), and Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs).

"The government is concerned about the recent spate of residential fires," said Goh at a Responder Plus Programme on Aug. 30 at Joo Chiat Community Club.

"In particular, some of these cases have led to deaths.

We are doing what we can to support the families who have been affected by these fires."

Goh added that according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF) preliminary findings, the recent spates of residential fires are likely caused by either the battery packs from some AMDs, or electrical faults.

Current measures

Goh shared that the government has been taking steps to tackle residential fires over the past few years.

Since 2018, new Housing Development Board (HDB) flats and existing ones have undergone addition and alteration works to install home fire alarm devices.

This will give occupants early notice if there is any smoke within the unit.

The Town Councils have been working with SCDF to remove hazardous materials from corridors and common spaces.

The Land Transport Authority and the Ministry of Transport have also implemented measures that require all PABs and PMDs to be registered and undergo safety checks.

In addition, various enforcement and regulatory actions have been implemented, such as the SCDF installing fire extinguishers in various HDB estates.

This allows members of public to help respond to fires a lot more quickly.

"But certainly we hope to work more closely with members of the public to make our homes a lot more fire safe, and to reduce the overall occurrence of fires," said Goh.

Fires reported

Numerous fires have broken out in 2025, with some resulting in fatalities.

A fire broke out on Aug. 13 in a flat at Jalan Bukit Merah, leading to the deaths of a 34-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman.

The SCDF's preliminary findings found that the fire may have originated from a battery pack of a PMD in the living room.

In July 2025, two people were found dead in a flat that caught fire at Lorong 1 Toa Payoh.

50 people were evacuated after a fire broke out in a flat at Lorong 5 Toa Payoh.

Preliminary findings by SCDF indicated that the fire involved a personal mobility aid in the living room.

According to SCDF, 1,990 fires were reported in 2024, with nearly half occurring in residences,

The number of residential fires accounted for 48.6 per cent of all cases, at 968 phone calls. This represented a 0.2 per cent drop, or two phone calls, from 2023.

In addition, fires involving AMDs increased by 12 phone calls, or 21.8 per cent, to 67 for 2024, compared to 2023.

Of the 299 residential fires that had an electrical origin, 44 involved AMDs, which is an increase of nine calls (25.7 per cent) from 35 in 2023, the SCDF highlighted.

Top photos via SCDF/Facebook