SINGAPORE: The number of fires involving active mobility devices (AMDs) rose by 31 per cent in 2023, according to annual statistics released by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on Wednesday (Feb 21).
There were 55 cases last year, up from the 42 seen in 2022.
Overall, SCDF responded to 1,954 fires in 2023, an increase of 8.6 per cent compared to 2022. Causes of electrical origin and unattended cooking were the top two causes of fires, accounting for 597 cases and 456 cases respectively.
There were 81 fire injuries and three fire fatalities in 2023.
Fires involving AMDs, such as power-assisted bicycles and personal mobility devices, remain a key fire safety concern, especially in residential premises, said SCDF.
“Members of the public are reminded to remain vigilant when handling their AMDs, as these fires can result in serious injuries and damage to property,” SCDF said.
It also reminded AMD owners that they should dispose of their unwanted devices safely, through authorised e-waste recyclers and e-waste collection points, or during periodic collection drives by town councils.
SCDF has continued to disseminate fire safety advisories on AMD fires to the public, it said.
This includes reminders not to charge batteries for a prolonged period or leave them charging unattended overnight, and to refrain from purchasing or using non-original batteries.
BREAKDOWN OF FIRES IN 2023
Of the 1,954 fires SCDF responded to last year, 970 were fires involving residential buildings. This was an increase from 935 fires in 2022.
Fires due to unattended cooking made up the largest proportion of fires in residential buildings. There were 384 fires caused by unattended cooking in 2023, an increase of 12 per cent compared to 2022.
AMDs were involved in 35 of the 276 residential fires of electrical origin – an increase of 12.9 per cent from 2022. The figure of 276 was also 21.1 per cent higher than the number seen for such fires the year before.
There were 91 fires involving discarded items in 2023, a decrease of 8.1 per cent from the 99 seen in 2022.
“These fires typically occur in common areas, such as lift lobbies, staircase landings and common corridors,” said SCDF.
SCDF said it will continue its efforts to educate the public on fire prevention through public engagement activities such as its Community Resilience Day events and SGSecure roadshows.