Current Affairs
Midnight fire erupts at Hougang Avenue flat; PMD suspected as cause
SINGAPORE: A fire broke out early Friday morning (16 Aug) in a residential unit at Block 313 Hougang Avenue 5, leaving three people hospitalized.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received the alert at approximately 12:50 a.m., prompting firefighters from Sengkang and Paya Lebar Fire Stations to respond swiftly to the emergency.
Upon arrival, the SCDF firefighters discovered that the living room of a second-floor unit was engulfed in flames.
Reports indicated that one person was trapped inside the unit.
The firefighters promptly made a forcible entry through the front door and navigated through the smoke-filled residence to reach the trapped individual.
The rescue team located the person in the kitchen area and quickly brought them out to safety.
The firefighters used a water jet to extinguish the blaze.
The fire caused extensive damage, completely destroying the living room and leaving the rest of the unit with significant heat and soot damage.
SCDF paramedics were on the scene to assess four individuals affected by the incident.
Two were transported to Singapore General Hospital and one to Changi General Hospital, while one person declined further medical attention.
As a precautionary measure, about 30 residents from neighboring units were evacuated by the police to ensure their safety.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire likely originated from a Personal Mobility Device (PMD) located in the living room.
However, the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The SCDF has issued a reminder to the public to avoid charging PMD batteries for extended periods or overnight and to use only original batteries to prevent similar incidents.
In February, the SCDF’s annual report highlighted a 31% increase in fires involving active mobility devices (AMDs) in 2023.
The report indicated that incidents involving AMDs, such as PMDs, power-assisted bicycles, and personal mobility aids, rose to 55 cases in 2023, up from 42 in 2022.
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