E-scooter in Chua Chu Kang flat catches fire

SINGAPORE — Just a day after Parliament debated on ways to make the use of personal mobility devices (PMDs) safer, another case of a fire linked to such a device has occurred — this time in Chua Chu Kang.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Aug 6), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that there was a fire at Block 688A, Choa Chu Kang Drive, in a flat on the third floor.

Firefighters responded to the incident at about 11.35am and seven occupants from the flat had been evacuated before they arrived.

An adult and a child were taken to the National University Hospital, while another adult was taken to Ng Teng Fong Hospital — all due to smoke inhalation, SCDF said.

“The fire involved a PMD in the living room and was extinguished by SCDF using a compressed air foam backpack,” it added. Pictures posted on SCDF's Facebook page showed an electric scooter lying on a living room floor.

Preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire indicated that it was “of electrical origin from the PMD which was charging at the time of the fire”.

Reminding the public yet again about fire hazards linked to PMDs, SCDF said that those buying e-scooters and other PMDs should look out for the UL2272 certification.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) “encourages all PMD owners to use UL2272 certified devices”, it said.

On Monday, Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Transport, announced in Parliament that LTA would require PMD users to ensure their devices comply with the UL2272 standard by July 1, 2020 — half a year before the original deadline of Jan 1, 2021.

The UL2272 is a safety standard that will reduce the risk of fires. To get the certification, the devices would have to go through a series of electrical, mechanical and environmental tests.