Fewer fires in
first four months this year compared to 2016, but battery fires on
the rise
SINGAPORE - The number of fires reported from January to April
this year was 15 per cent lower compared to the same period in
2016, but there were more cases of battery fires, said the
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
There were a total of 1,275 fires reported in the first four months
of this year, down from 1,502 last year. Thirteen cases were fires
involving rechargeable batteries, such as from electric bicycles.
This was up from five such fires last year.
With the popularity of electric bicycles, personal mobility devices
and power banks in Singapore, there is a need for the public to be
aware of preventive steps.
"Battery fires can be caused by faulty electrical circuitry that
may lead to short-circuiting of the batteries. The high current
drawn by faulty electrical circuitry can generate sufficient heat
to ignite the devices or materials in close proximity to the
devices," said SCDF in a statement.
As a precaution, one should avoid overcharging the battery and
never leave them to charge overnight, added SCDF. "Some models also
do not have a power cut-off function to prevent overcharging which
could lead to a fire."
Meanwhile, rubbish chute fires contributed to the 935 residential
fires this year. One such incident took place in February, where a
housewife and her young son spotted smoke emerging from a chute
along their corridor at their block in Punggol. They poured four
pails of water down the chute before calling 995.
To prevent rubbish chute fires, completely extinguish lighted
materials before disposing of them into rubbish chutes or bins, and
do not throw flammable substances, such as paint or oil, into
chutes or bins, advised SCDF.
Members of the public who spot fire hazards can report them to the
SCDF by calling 1800-280- 0000, or by e-mailing
[email protected]
In addition to that, the public can also submit photographs and a
brief description of the fire hazards using the "mySCDF" mobile
phone application, which can be downloaded from the Apple Store and
Google Play store.
-- ST