Man and baby suffer smoke inhalation after PMD catches fire while charging in Bukit Batok flat

A man and an infant from two separate units were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at Block 416 Bukit Batok West Avenue 4 on Tuesday morning (Oct 8).

In a Facebook post, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it responded to the fire in a fifth-floor unit at around 10.40am.

The fire, which involved the contents of a bedroom, was extinguished by the SCDF with a water jet.

"A male occupant from the affected unit and a female infant from a sixth-floor unit were assessed by SCDF paramedics and conveyed to Singapore General Hospital and KK Women's and Children's Hospital for smoke inhalation," added the Facebook post.

About 30 residents from the block were also evacuated by the SCDF as a precautionary measure.

Preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire indicates that it was of electrical origin from a personal mobility device (PMD) that was charging at the time of the incident, said the SCDF.

Here are some safety tips for the prevention of fires involving PMDs.

(Photo: SCDF)

It is unclear if the PMD involved was UL2272-certified, reported The Straits Times.

The UL2272 standard is a set of safety requirements covering the electrical drive train system of PMDs, including the battery system.

E-scooter owners are required by law to have their devices UL2272-certified by July 1 next year.

Those who own non-UL2272 certified-PMDs are strongly encouraged to dispose their devices at designated disposal points as soon as possible.