‘Raging’ fire breaks out in Ang Mo Kio flat, likely to be caused by PMD

SINGAPORE — One adult and three children were rescued and dozens more nearby residents were evacuated after a fire engulfed an entire Housing and Development Board flat in Ang Mo Kio on Monday (July 22) afternoon.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire originated from a personal mobility device (PMD) in the flat’s kitchen, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post on Monday.

Firefighters responded to the fire on the fourth floor of Block 224 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 at about 3pm. “Upon SCDF's arrival, the fire was raging and involved the contents of the entire unit. The fire was extinguished with one water jet,” the SCDF said.

The adult and three children were rescued from a neighbouring unit, while around 60 people were evacuated from the affected block by SCDF and police officers.

In order to prevent such fires from occurring, the SCDF urged the public to practise fire safety tips such as not leaving a PMD or power assisted bicycle charging unattended for an extended period.

They should not tamper with or modify their devices on their own, and should regularly examine their device’s batteries for damage or deformities, the SCDF said.

PMD owners are also encouraged to use devices that are certified with the UL2272 safety standard, it added.