40 evacuated, 4 taken to hospital after PMD-linked fire in Yishun

SINGAPORE - A fire linked to a personal mobility device (PMD) broke out in Yishun in the early hours of Nov 5, causing about 40 people from the affected block to be evacuated and four to be taken to hospital.

This was less than four hours after

another fire involving a personal mobility aid

at an HDB block in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 late on Nov 4.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), which was alerted to the fire at Block 475B Yishun Street 44 at about 2.25am, extinguished the fire after arriving at the scene.

According to SCDF’s preliminary findings, the fire likely originated from a PMD in the living room of a third-floor unit.

Four people from the affected unit were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital, added SCDF.

It reminded members of the public not to purchase or use non-original batteries for their active mobility devices, including PMDs and power-assisted bicycles (PABs), and to not charge PMD/PAB batteries for an extended period of time or overnight.

In the first half of 2025,

there were 20 fires involving PMDs

, up from 10 in the same period in 2024.

In a Facebook post on Nov 5, Nee Soon GRC MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi lauded residents’ efforts in helping one another during the evacuation process.

He added that he was relieved to hear that the residents from the affected unit have been discharged.

“I spoke with the family and reassured them that our grassroot leaders, as well as colleagues from the Housing and Development Board and Nee Soon Town Council will do their best in supporting them in this time of difficulty,” Dr Syed Harun said.

“A few weeks ago, we had conducted our Emergency Preparedness Exercise at this same neighbourhood. This incident is a strong and timely reminder for all of us to stay vigilant, to learn first responder skills where we can and to continue looking out for one another.”