Over 50 people evacuated after mobility scooter catches fire at Yishun HDB block

A personal mobility aid (PMA) caught fire at the staircase landing of an HDB block in Yishun on Sunday (Oct 18) morning, resulting in the evacuation of over 50 people.

The incident, which happened at Block 438 Yishun Avenue 11 at about 9.05am, caused electricity disruption to two adjacent flats.

Footage of the incident shared with AsiaOne shows black smoke billowing from the third floor common area, while a police cordon is placed around the ground floor walkway, below the affected area.

Residents are seen waiting at the void deck of the opposite HDB block as firefighters tackle the blaze.

Photographs of the aftermath shared by Senior Parliamentary Secretary Syed Harun Alhabsyi, who is also MP for Nee Soon Link division in Nee Soon GRC, show paint blistering on the walls and ceiling at the staircase landing.

An electrical trunking leading to what appears like a common area lighting is charred.

A grassroots volunteer for the area, surnamed Yee, was overheard telling fellow residents that the device may have been allegedly left charging at the staircase landing when the fire broke out.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in response to media queries that its officers extinguished the fire at a common area on the third level using a compressed air foam trolley, adding that there were no reported injuries.

Preliminary investigations indicated that a PMA was the source of the fire.

According to MP Syed Harun, the Nee Soon Town Council immediately carried out repair works and electricity supply to the affected units was restored at 4pm.

He also expressed his appreciation to SCDF for its swift response and grassroots volunteers for their support.

"The safety and well-being of our residents remain our priority. I also encourage everyone to stay mindful of fire safety in our daily lives," the MP said.

Man arrested for drunkenness

During firefighting operations, the police said they arrested a 57-year-old man for drunkenness.

He is alleged to have caused a scene by shouting, refusing to comply with police officers who engaged him.

He is not believed to have been involved in the PMA fire incident.

Last year, a total of 304 cases of electrical fires took place at residential premises.

Of these, 49 cases involved active mobility devices (AMDs) including power-assisted bicycles (12 cases), personal mobility devices (31) and PMAs (6).

While there was a decrease in fires involving AMDs, SCDF said it remains an area of concern — especially for those that occur at residential premises, due to its rapid fire spread within confined spaces.

10 月 18 日星期日早上，义顺一栋组屋的楼梯平台上，一辆个人移动辅助设备 (PMA) 起火，导致 50 多人被疏散。

事件发生在义顺11道第438座组屋，时间约为上午9点05分，导致相邻两套组屋停电。

亚洲新闻网分享的事件视频显示，三楼公共区域冒出滚滚黑烟，而受影响区域下方的一楼走廊周围则拉起了警戒线。

可以看到，消防员正在扑灭大火，而对面组屋的居民则在组屋底层等候。

高级政务次长赛义顺集选区义顺连路区议员赛义顺·阿尔哈布西分享的灾后照片显示，楼梯平台的墙壁和天花板上的油漆起泡。

通往公共区域照明的电线槽似乎已被烧焦。

当地一位姓叶的基层志愿者被听到告诉其他居民，火灾发生时，这台设备可能正在楼梯平台上充电。

新加坡民防部队（SCDF）在回应媒体询问时表示，其官员使用压缩空气泡沫车扑灭了三楼公共区域的火灾，并补充说没有人员伤亡报告。

初步调查显示，PMA是火灾的起因。

据国会议员赛义德·哈伦称，义顺市镇理事会立即展开维修工作，受影响单位的电力供应已于下午 4 点恢复。

他还对新加坡民防部队的迅速反应和基层志愿者的支持表示感谢。

“居民的安全和福祉仍然是我们的首要任务。我也鼓励大家在日常生活中时刻注意消防安全，”这位议员说道。

男子因醉酒被捕

警方称，在灭火行动中，他们逮捕了一名57岁的醉酒男子。

据称他大声喧哗，拒不配合与他接触的警察，制造了混乱。

据信他并未参与PMA火灾事件。

去年，住宅场所共发生304起电气火灾。

其中，49 例涉及主动移动设备 (AMD)，包括电动辅助自行车 (12 例)、个人移动设备 (31 例) 和 PMA (6 例)。

虽然涉及空气源热泵的火灾有所减少，但新加坡民防部队表示，这仍然是一个令人担忧的领域——尤其是发生在住宅场所的火灾，因为在密闭空间内火势蔓延迅速。