With bans on the device in many parts of the island, it was hoped that fires involving personal mobility devices (PMDs) would stop occurring.
After all, footpath accidents involving PMDs dropped by nearly 80% between 2019 and 2020.
What’s more, e-scooter owners must now be 16 years and older and pass a theory test before they are able to ride their devices outdoors.
Still, even with all these measures, PMD fires still happen every now and then.
Sadly, a recent one cost someone’s life.
1 Dead & 1 Injured from PMD Fire in a Jurong West HDB Flat
At around 2:25am today, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received a call about a fire at Block 978 Jurong West Street 93.
When officers arrived, they discovered that the fire had erupted in a unit on the fifth floor. They also found two people who were standing on a ledge outside the unit.
Firefighters went into the unit with breathing apparatus to put out the blaze and forced their way into a bedroom where they rescued the two people standing on the ledge.
They found out that the fire involved the contents of another bedroom, and when they headed there, found an occupant inside the room.
Sadly, the occupant was pronounced dead by a paramedic at the scene. Firefighters eventually managed to extinguish the flame in the room.
Another man who had self-evacuated from the flat before the SCDF arrived was taken to Singapore General Hospital for burn injuries.
60 People Evacuated, Firefighters Conveyed to Hospital After Suffering Heat Exhaustion
In a Facebook post, the SCDF said around 60 people from neighbouring units were evacuated by the police as a precautionary measure.
“Two firefighters were assessed by paramedics to have experienced heat exhaustion and were conveyed to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital as a precautionary measure. They have since been discharged from the hospital,” it said.
Preliminary investigations into the cause of the fire revealed that it was of electrical origin from a PMD, the SCDF said.
Fire Safety Tips for PMDs & PABs
In its Facebook post, the SCDF also provided an infographic for fire safety tips for PMDs and power-assisted bicycles.
An expert who spoke to CNA earlier this year also gave the following recommendations to prevent such fires from breaking out:
- Promptly replace any faulty adapters or chargers
- Regularly examine batteries for damage or deformities
- Do not modify PMDs
- Avoid exposing it to water
“Non-UL2272 PMDs and any form of modifications to PMDs pose a fire risk and threaten public safety,” SCDF said.
“Owners of these devices are strongly encouraged to dispose of their devices at the appropriate recyclers.”
For more details on PMD disposal, head here.
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Featured Image: Facebook (Singapore Civil Defence Force)
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