A fire in a Housing Board flat located in Punggol sent four individuals, including three residents and a firefighter, to the hospital, according to The Straits Times.
The incident unfolded at Block 326A Sumang Walk around 2:10 a.m. on a Saturday morning, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
Upon receiving the alert, SCDF personnel promptly responded to the scene. Fortunately, the occupants of the affected unit on the 10th floor had already evacuated by the time the authorities arrived.
4 sent to hospital
Nevertheless, three residents from adjacent units experienced shortness of breath due to smoke inhalation and were subsequently transported to Sengkang General Hospital for medical attention.
Additionally, a firefighter, who had been participating in the firefighting operation, reported feelings of fatigue and was admitted to the hospital as a precaution.
The SCDF clarified that this firefighter was not part of the crew that entered the unit to combat the blaze and is currently under observation at the hospital.
The firefighting efforts were carried out by firefighters from the Punggol Fire Station, who successfully extinguished the flames using a water jet.
Fire likely caused by PAB
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was likely sparked by a battery pack of a power-assisted bicycle (PAB) that was charging in the living room of the affected flat.
This incident is part of a concerning trend, as noted in the SCDF’s mid-year report, which revealed that there were 27 fires involving personal mobility devices (PMDs) and PABs in the first half of 2023, marking an increase from the 22 such cases reported in the first half of 2022.
In response to these incidents, the SCDF issued a reminder to the public to take precautions when charging batteries for PMDs and PABs.
They advised against leaving these devices to charge for extended periods or overnight. Additionally, the SCDF emphasized the importance of using original, quality batteries to mitigate the risk of fire incidents related to personal mobility devices.