The ban on personal mobility devices (PMD) on footpaths, roads, drains, and bus shelters may have sparked uproar, but it has certainly worked to improve the safety of residents both on the streets and in their homes.
According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), there were fewer cases of fires involving PMDs and power-assisted bicycles (PABs) in the first half of 2021 than in the same period last year.
In the first half of 2019, 54 such fires were related, followed by 43 in the first half of 2020, and 29 in the first half of this year.
However, bad luck seems to follow PMDs and PABs wherever they go, as one recently caught fire in a flat even though it wasn’t charging.
PAB Catches Fire in Pipit Road HDB; 90 Residents Evacuated
Last night (12 Nov), while some people were still having their dinner, a PAB exploded on the 9th floor at 94 Pipit Road.
Some residents who heard the blast saw smoke when they headed out of their flats, and attempted to put out the flames with buckets of water and a fire extinguisher.
Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the incident. Two people had breathing difficulties after inhaling smoke but declined to be taken to the hospital.
SCDF said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to the fire at 8:05pm last night.
“The fire involved a Power-Assisted Bicycle (PAB) placed along the corridor on the 9th floor. SCDF firefighters extinguished the fire with one Compressed Air Foam Backpack and a water jet, which was used to damp down the affected area,” it said.
“As a result of the fire, the corridor was affected by heat and smoke damage.”
Around 90 residents were evacuated from nearby units by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure.
Based on their initial investigations, the SCDF concluded that the cause of the fire was of electrical origin from the PAB.
PAB Wasn’t Charging When it Exploded
Speaking to The Straits Times, the owner of the PAB, a food delivery rider, said he had borrowed it from a friend and was outside when the fire broke out.
He was thankful to those who attempted to put out the blaze, but confused as to how the device caught fire, given that it wasn’t being charged at the time.
The PAB was outside the flat, while the charger was inside, he said. It had not been charged for two days.
As you may know, many of the fires that involve PMDs or PABs usually occur when they’re charging, so it’s quite odd how this PAB exploded with no seeming cause.
In fact, if you go through the SCDF’s fire safety tips for PMDs and PABs, most of the things you’re advised not to do involve charging:
No Structural Damage
MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling, who visited the block after the incident, said that the walls at the affected corridor were covered with soot.
Fortunately, none of the units has suffered any structural damage.
No temporary units were needed either, as all of the residents have been allowed to return to their homes.
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Featured Image: Facebook (Tin Pei Ling 陈佩玲)
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