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Wait till ch8ia made electric cars flood the market. The BMW fiery death will look like it was just a matchstick.
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IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
How many fires caused by charging of PMDs?
- Thread starter LITTLEREDDOT
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Man died rescuing dogs after PMD left charging caught fire; coroner rules death unfortunate misadventure
There were three PMDs in the flat at Block 293D Bukit Batok Street 21 where a fire broke out. (Photo: Facebook/Murali Pillai)
By Lydia Lam@LydiaLamCNA
12 May 2021
SINGAPORE: A man who tried to rescue his dogs from a fire that broke out in his flat suffered burns on 40 per cent of his body and later died. A personal mobility device that had been left to charge had caught fire, which spread to the rest of the flat.
The coroner ruled 40-year-old Goh Keng Soon's death an unfortunate misadventure in findings made available this week.
Mr Goh and his wife lived in a flat in Bukit Batok Street 21. His wife told the court that Mr Goh had picked her up from work on Jul 17, 2019.
After telling her that the power to his Speedway-brand PMD had cut off, he began charging it in the living room next to his wife's two PMDs.
The couple watched television, then closed the living room windows and went to bed just before midnight.
At about 12.30am on Jul 18, 2019, Mr Goh's wife heard noises and woke her husband up thinking that there was someone in the living room.
However, when they opened the bedroom door, black smoke entered the room, she testified. She tried calling 995 twice, but the reception was bad.
She managed to confirm her address with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) at 12.47am and they told her they were on their way.
The couple retreated into a walk-in closet connected to their master bedroom and opened the windows to get some air, but there was still a lot of smoke.
They used plush toys to cover their noses and headed towards the master bedroom toilet, but heard their two dogs barking from the living room.
Mr Goh told his wife to go to the toilet and wait, before leaving to rescue their dogs. Shortly after, she heard her husband scream and tried to open the toilet door, but the handle was too hot to the touch.
When the ceiling fixtures began to melt and fall on her, she climbed out of the toilet window and onto the air-conditioner ledge.
Meanwhile, the couple's neighbours gathered outside and tried to extinguish the fire using an internal hose reel from the lobby outside their flat.
SCDF ARRIVED TO FIND MR GOH PASSED OUT
Firefighters and police officers arrived at the flat on the 26th floor and forcibly entered the unit. They found Mr Goh collapsed on the floor in the common toilet, while his wife was on the aircon ledge outside. The two dogs were rescued.
Mr Goh and his wife were both taken to hospital. Mr Goh was assessed to be in cardiac arrest, with second-degree partial-thickness burns on about 40 per cent of his body. He died two days later on Jul 20, 2019.
His cause of death was certified as multi-organ failure following a heart attack with thermal burns and coronary artery disease.
A fire investigation report by the SCDF showed that the fire had originated in the living room where the PMDs were placed. As the circuit breaker had tripped, there was likely to be an electrical anomaly that was caused either by the charging of the PMD, or the effects of the fire from the living room.
Remnants of spent battery cells believed to be lithium-ion cells from the PMDs were recovered from the area where the fire originated.
The charging circuit was traced to the Speedway PMD, which had a two-pin plug inserted into a four-socket extension cord via a two-pin adapter. The extension cord was connected to the wall socket.
OVERHEATING, LOOSENED CONTACTS FOUND
Localised resistance overheating with arching and melting was found at the two-pin plug and the charging port in the PMD, due to loosened contacts and a faulty charger.
Overheating was also found in the battery packs of the Speedway PMD, due to an ineffective battery management system. The damage to the other two PMDs was secondary in nature, caused by the radiant heat flux from the fire outbreak which resulted in a thermal runaway in the two other PMDs, causing further heat damage in the living room.
A technical report concluded that the fire was primarily caused by the overheating at the two-pin plug and charging port while the Speedway PMD was being charged.
An expert noted that the two-pin plug used in this case had flat pins and not cylindrical pins. He said the connection would not be good if a flat two-pin plug is connected to a socket that is not adapted for such a plug, as there may be a loose connection that could lead to overheating.
He gave the following recommendations: Charge PMDs or their batteries in a fully ventilated flat space and away from combustible materials; Do not leave charging devices unattended for an extended period of time or overnight; Maintain the PMDs in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation and promptly replace any faulty adapters or chargers; Regularly examine batteries for damage or deformities such as burns, punctures, bulging, cracks, corrosion or powdery residue; and buy and use only PMDs with the UL2272 certification mark; Do not modify PMDs.
Police investigations found that the couple had bought the Speedway PMD in 2016 and did not modify the battery pack. They had used the same battery pack since it was first purchased and did not buy an additional charger for it.
PMD BOUGHT BEFORE STRICTER SAFETY REGULATIONS IMPOSED
According to the coroner's report, the PMD was designed in Korea and manufactured in China, and there were no compliance requirements or regulations set by the Land Transport Authority when it was marketed in Singapore.
A manager of LTA's active mobility group said that only UL2272 certified devices were allowed on cycling paths from Jul 1, 2020, a year after sale of non-UL2772 devices was banned.
Between 2017 and 2018, SCDF attended to 101 fires caused by non-UL2272 certified PMDs like the Speedway.
The UL2272 standard was announced in September 2018 and is a fire safety standard for motorised PMDs. However, even if a PMD has the certification, it does not mean it will not overheat or catch fire, and users should still adopt proper and safe handling of PMDs - such as not modifying their devices, not overcharging batteries and not leaving their devices unattended when charging.
The LTA manager added that users should avoid exposing their PMDs to water. If the device is exposed to wet weather conditions, it should be wiped dry immediately after use.
The coroner said there is no basis to suspect foul play, but said this "tragic incident demonstrates the grave dangers of using the non-UL2272 certified PMDs".
She advised owners of such devices to dispose of them, as they pose a significant fire risk, and conveyed her condolences to Mr Goh's family for their very sad loss.
There were three PMDs in the flat at Block 293D Bukit Batok Street 21 where a fire broke out. (Photo: Facebook/Murali Pillai)
By Lydia Lam@LydiaLamCNA
12 May 2021
SINGAPORE: A man who tried to rescue his dogs from a fire that broke out in his flat suffered burns on 40 per cent of his body and later died. A personal mobility device that had been left to charge had caught fire, which spread to the rest of the flat.
The coroner ruled 40-year-old Goh Keng Soon's death an unfortunate misadventure in findings made available this week.
Mr Goh and his wife lived in a flat in Bukit Batok Street 21. His wife told the court that Mr Goh had picked her up from work on Jul 17, 2019.
After telling her that the power to his Speedway-brand PMD had cut off, he began charging it in the living room next to his wife's two PMDs.
The couple watched television, then closed the living room windows and went to bed just before midnight.
At about 12.30am on Jul 18, 2019, Mr Goh's wife heard noises and woke her husband up thinking that there was someone in the living room.
However, when they opened the bedroom door, black smoke entered the room, she testified. She tried calling 995 twice, but the reception was bad.
She managed to confirm her address with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) at 12.47am and they told her they were on their way.
The couple retreated into a walk-in closet connected to their master bedroom and opened the windows to get some air, but there was still a lot of smoke.
They used plush toys to cover their noses and headed towards the master bedroom toilet, but heard their two dogs barking from the living room.
Mr Goh told his wife to go to the toilet and wait, before leaving to rescue their dogs. Shortly after, she heard her husband scream and tried to open the toilet door, but the handle was too hot to the touch.
When the ceiling fixtures began to melt and fall on her, she climbed out of the toilet window and onto the air-conditioner ledge.
Meanwhile, the couple's neighbours gathered outside and tried to extinguish the fire using an internal hose reel from the lobby outside their flat.
SCDF ARRIVED TO FIND MR GOH PASSED OUT
Firefighters and police officers arrived at the flat on the 26th floor and forcibly entered the unit. They found Mr Goh collapsed on the floor in the common toilet, while his wife was on the aircon ledge outside. The two dogs were rescued.
Mr Goh and his wife were both taken to hospital. Mr Goh was assessed to be in cardiac arrest, with second-degree partial-thickness burns on about 40 per cent of his body. He died two days later on Jul 20, 2019.
His cause of death was certified as multi-organ failure following a heart attack with thermal burns and coronary artery disease.
A fire investigation report by the SCDF showed that the fire had originated in the living room where the PMDs were placed. As the circuit breaker had tripped, there was likely to be an electrical anomaly that was caused either by the charging of the PMD, or the effects of the fire from the living room.
Remnants of spent battery cells believed to be lithium-ion cells from the PMDs were recovered from the area where the fire originated.
The charging circuit was traced to the Speedway PMD, which had a two-pin plug inserted into a four-socket extension cord via a two-pin adapter. The extension cord was connected to the wall socket.
OVERHEATING, LOOSENED CONTACTS FOUND
Localised resistance overheating with arching and melting was found at the two-pin plug and the charging port in the PMD, due to loosened contacts and a faulty charger.
Overheating was also found in the battery packs of the Speedway PMD, due to an ineffective battery management system. The damage to the other two PMDs was secondary in nature, caused by the radiant heat flux from the fire outbreak which resulted in a thermal runaway in the two other PMDs, causing further heat damage in the living room.
A technical report concluded that the fire was primarily caused by the overheating at the two-pin plug and charging port while the Speedway PMD was being charged.
An expert noted that the two-pin plug used in this case had flat pins and not cylindrical pins. He said the connection would not be good if a flat two-pin plug is connected to a socket that is not adapted for such a plug, as there may be a loose connection that could lead to overheating.
He gave the following recommendations: Charge PMDs or their batteries in a fully ventilated flat space and away from combustible materials; Do not leave charging devices unattended for an extended period of time or overnight; Maintain the PMDs in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation and promptly replace any faulty adapters or chargers; Regularly examine batteries for damage or deformities such as burns, punctures, bulging, cracks, corrosion or powdery residue; and buy and use only PMDs with the UL2272 certification mark; Do not modify PMDs.
Police investigations found that the couple had bought the Speedway PMD in 2016 and did not modify the battery pack. They had used the same battery pack since it was first purchased and did not buy an additional charger for it.
PMD BOUGHT BEFORE STRICTER SAFETY REGULATIONS IMPOSED
According to the coroner's report, the PMD was designed in Korea and manufactured in China, and there were no compliance requirements or regulations set by the Land Transport Authority when it was marketed in Singapore.
A manager of LTA's active mobility group said that only UL2272 certified devices were allowed on cycling paths from Jul 1, 2020, a year after sale of non-UL2772 devices was banned.
Between 2017 and 2018, SCDF attended to 101 fires caused by non-UL2272 certified PMDs like the Speedway.
The UL2272 standard was announced in September 2018 and is a fire safety standard for motorised PMDs. However, even if a PMD has the certification, it does not mean it will not overheat or catch fire, and users should still adopt proper and safe handling of PMDs - such as not modifying their devices, not overcharging batteries and not leaving their devices unattended when charging.
The LTA manager added that users should avoid exposing their PMDs to water. If the device is exposed to wet weather conditions, it should be wiped dry immediately after use.
The coroner said there is no basis to suspect foul play, but said this "tragic incident demonstrates the grave dangers of using the non-UL2272 certified PMDs".
She advised owners of such devices to dispose of them, as they pose a significant fire risk, and conveyed her condolences to Mr Goh's family for their very sad loss.
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Man seriously hurt after PMD catches fire in Woodlands lift
The fire was extinguished by members of the public using buckets of water before the SCDF arrived.PHOTOS: SINGAPORE CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE/FACEBOOK
Ivan Kwee
June 4, 2021
SINGAPORE - A fire broke out in a lift at Block 537 Woodlands Drive 16 on Thursday night (June 3), said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in a Facebook post on Friday.
The SCDF said it was alerted to the fire at about 11.25pm, which involved a personal mobility device (PMD) in a lift.
The fire was extinguished by members of the public using buckets of water before the SCDF arrived.
SCDF said a person was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital with severe burn injuries.
About 90 residents from the affected block were evacuated by the police as a precautionary measure.
SCDF said preliminary investigations into the cause of the fire indicated it was of electrical origin from the PMD.
SCDF reminded the public that non-UL2272 PMDs and any form of modifications to PMDs pose a fire risk and threaten public safety.
It said owners of these devices are strongly encouraged to dispose of their devices at the appropriate recyclers.
From now till June 30, the public may dispose of their PMDs at any KGS collection point at no cost.
For more details, visit this website.
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PMDs are not as nearly as bad as cars when it comes to catching fire.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/why-so-many-car-fires-in-singapore-14935728
CNA Insider:
About one car catches fire every two days - that’s an average of 200 car fires a year according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Automotive experts estimate that about 95% of car fires occur due to electrical faults. For example, improper installations and rewiring your car to install add-ons like dash cams and powerful sound systems are fire risks.
Advertisement
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/why-so-many-car-fires-in-singapore-14935728
CNA Insider:
Why so many car fires in Singapore?
03 Jun 2021 02:58AM (Updated: 03 Jun 2021 03:55AM)About one car catches fire every two days - that’s an average of 200 car fires a year according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Automotive experts estimate that about 95% of car fires occur due to electrical faults. For example, improper installations and rewiring your car to install add-ons like dash cams and powerful sound systems are fire risks.
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Man, 20, dies after PMD catches fire in Woodlands lift
1 of 4
The fire was extinguished by members of the public using buckets of water before the SCDF arrived.PHOTOS: SINGAPORE CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE/FACEBOOK
Ivan Kwee
June 4, 2021
SINGAPORE - A 20-year-old man died after a fire broke out in a lift at Block 537 Woodlands Drive 16 on Thursday night (June 3).
A personal mobility device (PMD) was in the lift.
On Friday, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post it was alerted to the fire at about 11.25pm on Thursday. The fire involved a PMD in a lift.
The fire was extinguished by members of the public using buckets of water before the SCDF arrived.
SCDF said a person was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital with severe burn injuries.
On Friday, a police spokesman told The Straits Times the man died from his injuries. Investigations are ongoing and no foul play is suspected.
The SCDF said about 90 residents from the affected block were evacuated by the police as a precautionary measure.
It said preliminary investigations into the cause of the fire indicated it was of electrical origin from the PMD.
SCDF reminded the public that non-UL2272 PMDs and any form of modifications to PMDs pose a fire risk and threaten public safety.
It said owners of these devices are strongly encouraged to dispose of their devices at the appropriate recyclers.
From now till June 30, the public may dispose of their PMDs at any KGS collection point at no cost.
For more details, visit this website.
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Not nearly enough. 60% of the population need to be wiped
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Very quick to defend pap. So who is supposedto check bike shopsz. Civiliansz.
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Family flees Bukit Batok flat after PMD explodes in children's bedroom
Ms Ainn heard four blasts from the bedroom and saw thick smoke and fire afterwards. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
Nadine Chua
Jun 21, 2021
She was in the living room watching television with her parents and two children when she heard four blasts from the children's bedroom.
The 29-year-old, who wanted to be known only as Ms Ainn, a patient care worker, told Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao that after the explosions, she saw thick smoke and fire coming from her children's bedroom.
In response to queries from The New Paper, a spokesman for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire at Block 464A Bukit Batok West Avenue 8 on Saturday at 5.46pm.
The fire, which involved a battery unit of a personal mobility device (PMD) in the bedroom of the flat, was extinguished by the occupants before SCDF's arrival, the spokesman added.
"Two adults and two children self-evacuated from the unit before SCDF's arrival, and one person from the unit was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital," the spokesman added.
Ms Ainn told Zaobao that she had fled to her neighbour's flat with her mother and children and asked her neighbours to call SCDF while her father extinguished the fire using a hose from the bathroom.
She said he managed to put out most of the fire before the SCDF arrived.
The situation was so chaotic that her two children, aged three and five, were crying and in shock.
Her mother felt faint and dizzy after inhaling the smoke and was taken to hospital.
CONTAINED
"The damage is not too serious as the fire was contained within my children's bedroom."So we will still be staying in this flat for now," she told Zaobao.
Ms Ainn added that prior to the fire, her father had been using the PMD to get to work daily, despite her repeated reminders for him not to.
"There has been an increasing number of fires involving PMDs these days, so I was worried about such an incident happening to us," she said, adding that her father does not plan on using a PMD again.
SCDF reminds the public to prevent such fires by following the safety tips found at go.gov.sg/pmdfiresafetytips.
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Agree fully. cannot understand why youngsters cannot walk more. Or even jog.
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Two rescued from Ang Mo Kio flat after blaze involving PMA scooter
The fire involving a Personal Mobility Aid scooter (above) occurred at about 12.25am on July 7.
David Sun
Jul 7, 2021
SINGAPORE - Two people were taken to hospital in the early hours of Wednesday (July 7) after they were rescued from a flat where there was a fire involving a Personal Mobility Aid (PMA) scooter.
The incident happened at about 12.25am at Block 314 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the PMA was in the living room of a unit on the 10th storey.
The fire was extinguished by members of the public who splashed buckets of water through the window and doorway of the unit.
When SCDF arrived, firefighters made a forced entry into the smoke-filled unit.
They found one person at the entrance of the unit and another in the toilet.
One was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and the other to KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
A third resident, from the 12th storey, was also taken to TTSH for smoke inhalation.
About 50 people from the block were evacuated by the SCDF and the police as a precautionary measure.
"Preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire indicates that it was of electrical origin from the PMA scooter," said the SCDF.
"SCDF would like to remind the public that motorised devices that are modified, not properly maintained or do not use the original chargers are fire risks."
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Charging PMD battery suspected to be origin of fire at Sengkang flat
An SCDF firefighter using a water jet. The fire involved the contents of a bedroom. PHOTO: SCDF/FACEBOOK
Gena Soh
SEP 15, 2021
SINGAPORE - A fire broke out at Block 185C Rivervale Crescent in Sengkang on Tuesday night (Sept 14).
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on Facebook that it was alerted to the fire at about 9pm.
SCDF firefighters arrived as the fire was raging in a unit on the third storey. They were equipped with breathing apparatus sets when they entered the smoke-filled unit.
The fire involved the contents of a bedroom and was extinguished by SCDF with one water jet. The rest of the unit suffered heat and soot damage.
Photos in SCDF's post show a bed with what appears to be the burnt remains of a personal mobility device (PMD) and a charred living room.
Three occupants had left the affected unit before SCDF arrived. Two of them were taken to Singapore General Hospital, and one to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, to be checked for smoke inhalation and/or burn injuries, SCDF said.
The police evacuated 10 residents from neighbouring units as a precautionary measure.
No other injuries were reported.
SCDF's preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire indicated that it was of electrical origin from a PMD battery that was being charged in the bedroom.
PMD-related fires went down from 102 in 2019 to 42 last year. This year's number is still being tabulated.
SCDF would like to remind the public about preventing PMD fires, with safety tips given in the infographic.
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One person dies after PMD fire in Jurong West flat; 2 others rescued
Rosalind Ang
Oct 8, 2021
SINGAPORE - A man was found dead in a bedroom after a fire broke out in a Housing Board flat in Jurong West, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on Friday (Oct 8).
Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was of electrical origin from a personal mobility device (PMD).
The SCDF was alerted to the blaze on the fifth storey in Block 978 Jurong West Street 93 at 2.25am on Friday. Two people were seen standing on a ledge outside a unit.
The firefighters broke into a bedroom of the flat to rescue them.
The fire, which involved the contents in another bedroom, was extinguished with one water jet.
A 22-year-old man was found in that bedroom and pronounced dead at the scene by a SCDF paramedic, the police said.
A 24-year-old unconscious man had been evacuated from the flat before the SCDF arrived and was taken to Singapore General Hospital for burn injuries, said the police.
About 60 residents from neighbouring units were evacuated by the police.
Two firefighters were assessed by paramedics to have experienced heat exhaustion and sent to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. They have since been discharged.
In the Facebook post, SCDF reminded the public on the prevention of PMD fires with safety tips in an infographic.
It added that non-UL2272 PMDs pose a fire risk and owners are strongly encouraged to dispose of their devices at recyclers.
West Coast GRC MP Ang Wei Neng said in a Facebook post on Friday (Oct 8) that he had been at the scene of the fire in the morning.
“I also visited the neighbours in the same stack of the block and they were mostly okay, though many of them had to be evacuated briefly at 3am in the wee hours of the morning. I hope that this incident will serve as a solemn reminder that we should only use licensed and approved PMDs,” he wrote.
Visit this website to find out the disposal locations.
Only UL2272 motorised PMDs are allowed on cycling paths.
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'Tolong, tolong': 2 men climb onto HDB ledge to escape fatal PMD fire in Jurong
Two men in the flat climbed out to an air-conditioner ledge to escape from a fire suspected to be caused by a PMD.
PHOTOS: NOURA RAMDZAN/FACEBOOK, SCDF/FACEBOOK
Samuel Devaraj and Shermaine Ang
Oct 9, 2021
SINGAPORE - Shouting and loud footsteps woke housewife Indra Thevi up at 2.30am on Friday (Oct 8).
The smell of burning was thick in the air and she realised that a fire had broken out in her Housing Board block in Jurong West.
The 52-year-old and her family of two other adults, still clad in pyjamas, promptly left their second-floor home in Block 978 for the safety of a grass patch beside the block.
She saw clothes being thrown out from a unit on the fifth floor, where thick black smoke was billowing.
Two men, believed to be roommates aged 31 and 51 living in the flat, climbed out of the window to the air-conditioner ledge. They were escaping from a fire suspected to be caused by a personal mobility device (PMD).
In a Facebook post, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the fire at about 2.30am.
Madam Indra told The Straits Times that she was anxious for the safety of the two men on the ledge.
She said: "They were shouting, 'Tolong, Tolong', and appeared to be trying to get the attention of the people below. I was quite worried they were going to fall."
SCDF said firefighters with breathing apparatus entered the unit and forced their way into a bedroom, rescuing the two men.
They did not want to be taken to the hospital, the SCDF added.
A man found inside the bedroom where the fire occurred was pronounced dead at the scene by an SCDF paramedic.
Another occupant had evacuated from the unit before the SCDF arrived, and he was taken to Singapore General Hospital for burn injuries.
The police said the man who died was 22 years old and the man who was taken to hospital was 24.
About 60 people from neighbouring units were evacuated by the police.
One of them, student Pranita Bose, 12, said her elder sister was woken up by the strong smell of burning plastic and heard firefighters shouting. The older girl immediately alerted their parents. Pranita was alarmed to see the police and black smoke.
The police told her parents to evacuate from their fourth-floor unit with their three children and to take their masks along.
Pranita saw one man who suffered burns on his back and another who appeared to be in shock after being rescued from the window ledge.
She said: "I was quite scared that my family's belongings would be affected, as I didn't know how bad the fire was."
Another resident on the seventh floor, who wanted to be known only as Madam Yew, 71, was worried she could not escape fast enough, as she has difficulty moving around.
She was awoken by a loud banging noise. Six other family members were still asleep.
"I smelled the smoke and went out to the lift to see what was going on, and then I saw it was a fire on the fifth floor. I was so scared, I was shaking all over," she said in Mandarin.
She woke her children and grandchildren up and they quickly evacuated, while she and her husband lagged behind.
"I was panicking," she said.
Neighbours whom ST spoke to said they were not familiar with the five occupants of the flat, who were likely to be Chinese Malaysian tenants renting the five-room unit.
Consultant Noura Ramdzan, 52, who lives on the second storey, said she last saw two of the occupants two days ago, carrying a PMD up the stairs.
A housewife who wanted to be known only as Madam Ng, 69, lives directly above the affected unit. She said the floor of her living room and one of the bedrooms remained hot almost 12 hours after the fire.
She was shocked when she learnt someone had died in the unit.
She said: "It's so scary that a life can be lost just like that."
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Madam Yew, who lives directly above her, said the heat from the fire burnt the potted plants at her living room window, and her floor was dirty with soot.
SCDF said preliminary investigations indicated that the blaze was of electrical origin from a PMD.
This is not the first PMD-related death this year.
In June, a 20-year-old man died after his PMD burst into flames in a lift in a Woodlands HDB block.
PMDs here must meet the UL2272 standard - a set of safety requirements covering the electrical drive train system of PMDs, including the battery.
In Friday's Facebook post, the SCDF said: "Non-UL2272 PMDs and any form of modifications to PMDs pose a fire risk and threaten public safety. Owners of these devices are strongly encouraged to dispose of their devices at appropriate recyclers."
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Blaze at Pipit Road block caused by power-assisted bike, 90 residents evacuated
Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was of electrical origin from a power-assisted bicycle.
PHOTOS: ABDULLAH MOHAMMAD TAHA, SCDF/FACEBOOKSamuel Devaraj
Nov 11, 2021
SINGAPORE - A fire broke out on the ninth floor of a Housing Board flat on Wednesday night (Nov 10), caused by a power-assisted bicycle (PAB) being charged along the corridor.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire at Block 94 Pipit Road at about 8.05pm.
Once the firefighters arrived, they extinguished the fire with a compressed air foam backpack and used a water jet to damp down the affected area.
The corridor was affected by heat and smoke damage because of the fire, and about 90 residents from nearby units were evacuated by SCDF and the police as a precautionary measure, SCDF said.
While there were no casualties, an SCDF paramedic assessed two people for breathing difficulties. However, they did not want to be taken to hospital.
Prior to the firefighters' arrival, several members of the public had attempted to put out the fire using buckets of water and a fire extinguisher.
"SCDF will be reaching out to these individuals to commend them for their quick thinking and prompt action in attempting to put out the fire," it said in a Facebook post.
Preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire indicates that it was of electrical origin from the PAB, said SCDF.
It reminded the public to take steps to prevent PAB fires, such as not leaving charging devices unattended for an extended period of time or overnight, and to not charge PABs and personal mobility devices near combustible materials or along an escape path.
MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling said on Facebook on Wednesday night that she spoke to the HDB about whether it could make available temporary units for affected residents to stay in until it is safe for them to return to their homes.
"HDB has some on standby and will work with the affected households," she said. "Thankful for its swift response too."
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4 people, including two children, taken to hospital following PMD fire in Sembawang
SCDF was alerted to the fire at 2.10am at Sembawang Drive on Nov 28.
PHOTO: DR LIM WEE KIAK/FACEBOOK
Jean Iau
Nov 29, 2021
SINGAPORE - Two children, believed to be under the age of five, were taken to hospital following a fire that broke out in the wee hours of Sunday morning (Nov 28).
Early investigations into the cause of the fire indicate that it was of electrical origin from a personal mobility device (PMD) in the living room, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
SCDF was alerted to the fire in Sembawang Drive at 2.10am, and, in all, four people were taken to hospital for burn injuries, or smoke inhalation, or both.
Six occupants from the affected unit at Block 466C had self-evacuated prior to SCDF's arrival.
Two were taken to Singapore General Hospital, while another two were taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
The remaining two occupants were assessed for injuries, and they subsequently declined to be taken to hospital, said SCDF.
Forty people were evacuated by the police as a precautionary measure, it added.
When The Straits Times arrived at the unit on Monday afternoon, members of the family were spotted outside the blackened doorway.
They declined to comment, saying that they were still traumatised by the fire.
SCDF said the fire involved the contents of a living room in a sixth-floor unit. The rest of the unit suffered heat and smoke damage.
The blaze was extinguished with a compressed air foam backpack and a water jet.
Residents in the building told ST that they were allowed to return to their homes at about 3.30am.
Housewife Maimon Mohd Ariff, 57, who lives next door to the affected unit said she woke up on Sunday morning after she smelled smoke.
Pointing to the blackened ceiling outside the unit, she said: "My neighbour pushed open their front door and a lot of black smoke suddenly came out. It was scary, we couldn't see anything."
The couple living in the unit above the affected flat said that they were woken up on Sunday at about 2am when their next-door neighbours rang their doorbell and banged on their door.
"When we came out of the bedroom, we saw thick, black smoke and the floors felt warmer," said Madam Mariahnah Maarof, 50.
The human resources executive added that the police arrived shortly after and told them to evacuate the building.
Her husband, Mr Damak Tajudin, 50,a deliveryman, said that he carried his 78-year-old mother, a wheelchair user, out of the flat to the lift lobby with the help of police and SCDF officers. The officers told him the lift was safe to use.
The couple added that later on Sunday evening, they heard a cracking noise coming from the floor of their living room before the tiles abruptly popped up.
"I thought the floor was going to collapse," said Madam Mariahnah.
The SCDF reminded the public of measures to take to prevent PMD fires.
These include not charging the devices close to combustible materials, not leaving them charging overnight, and ensuring that the PMDs are properly certified.
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