A mobile phone burst into flames while charging on Monday morning, forcing a 70-year-old woman to flee with her two grandchildren from their 12th-floor flat in Toa Payoh.
The fire occurred at approximately 11:50am on 14 Jul 2025 at Block 194 Kim Keat Avenue. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to the emergency call and deployed firefighters who used water jets to extinguish the blaze.
Phone Emits Sparks During Charging, Triggers Bedroom Fire
Ms Liu, a 39-year-old saleswoman, told Lianhe Zaobao that the flat belonged to her brother. She had left her phone at home when she went to work that morning.
Her 70-year-old mother was charging the device in the bedroom when sparks and thick smoke suddenly erupted from the phone’s side. The elderly woman tried to evacuate immediately with her 15-year-old granddaughter and six-year-old grandson.
The boy was initially sleeping and threw a tantrum when awakened. The confused child lay on the floor before the trio finally escaped together.
A 49-year-old beautician who was living next door smelled something strange and stepped outside to investigate. She saw the young girl crying for help, saying their home was on fire.
“My husband tried to get closer to see if he could help, but the smoke got thicker and thicker. We were powerless to do anything,” she said.
When the SCDF arrived, one of the bedrooms was on fire. The unit and corridor area outside sustained heat and smoke damage.
About 60 people were evacuated from the block as a precautionary measure.
Child Hospitalised, Pet Cat Dies in Blaze
The six-year-old boy, who has asthma, inhaled significant amounts of smoke during the incident. SCDF said two people from the affected unit were assessed for smoke inhalation.
One was sent to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital while the other declined hospitalisation.
The mother’s bedroom, where the phone was charging, suffered the worst damage. Both the living room and bedroom were charred black when reporters visited the flat after the fire.
Numerous items stored on the living room floor were almost completely destroyed. A pet cat perished in the flames.
Ms Liu said the phone was less than six months old and the socket wasn’t connected to other electronic devices. She remains puzzled about how the device suddenly caught fire.
“My mother is certain the sparks came from the phone. It shouldn’t be related to the socket,” Ms Liu said.
SCDF’s preliminary investigations suggest the fire likely originated from electrical sources in the bedroom.
The authority reminded the public not to overload power sockets with multiple appliances and to switch off electrical devices when not in use. Only appliances and electrical plugs bearing the Safety Mark should be used.
SCDF also advised against placing electrical cords under carpets or mats, keeping them away from hot surfaces, and regularly checking for worn wires or cracked plugs. Damaged electrical components should be replaced or repaired immediately.
According to SCDF’s annual statistics report for 2024, fires due to unattended cooking and electrical origin were the top two causes of fires in residential premises last year. Out of 968 residential fires, 299 (31%) were due to electrical origin.
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