Three hospitalised after fire in Toa Payoh HDB flat, PMD battery suspected
Three people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a twelfth-floor HDB flat at Toa Payoh early on 22 August. About 50 residents were evacuated. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the blaze, confined to the living room, is believed to have involved a personal mobility device (PMD) battery. Authorities have reiterated fire safety warnings for such devices.
- Firefighters rescued a resident trapped in the kitchen; the blaze was confined to the living room of a twelfth-floor flat in Block 63, Lorong 5, Toa Payoh.
- The fire is suspected to involve a PMD battery, highlighting rising fire risks in residential flats; SCDF urges safe charging practices and adherence to fire safety guidelines.
SINGAPORE – Three people were taken to hospital following a fire in a Toa Payoh Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat during the early hours of 22 August. Approximately 50 residents from the affected block were evacuated as a precaution.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) reported that it was alerted at around 2:30am to a blaze at Block 63, Lorong 5 Toa Payoh. Firefighters forced entry into the twelfth-floor unit, where the living room was found ablaze. The fire was extinguished using a water jet and confined to the living room.
During the operation, firefighters rescued a person trapped in the kitchen. The individual suffered smoke inhalation and minor burns and was taken conscious to Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Two other residents from neighbouring flats were also conveyed to hospital — one to SGH for breathlessness and another to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for an ankle injury sustained during evacuation.
Possible cause: PMD battery
Preliminary investigations by SCDF indicate that the fire may have involved a personal mobility device (PMD) in the living room. The agency reiterated safety warnings against charging devices overnight, leaving batteries unattended while charging, or using non-original batteries. Residents are encouraged to observe fire safety guidelines for active mobility devices, available via a government advisory site.
Recent residential fire trends
The Toa Payoh incident follows several residential fires in Singapore this month. On 21 August, a blaze at a Bukit Purmei flat left three people hospitalised. In early August, two individuals were found unconscious in a Jalan Bukit Merah flat and later died; preliminary findings suggested a PMD battery pack may have been involved.
On 22 July, another fatal fire in Toa Payoh claimed two lives after a man and a woman were discovered unconscious and pronounced dead at the scene.
According to SCDF statistics, eight people have died in fire-related incidents in 2025 so far, compared with five in 2024 and three in 2023, marking the highest toll in three years.
Growing concerns over PMD fire risks
Authorities note that PMD batteries pose increasing fire risks, particularly in residential flats where devices are often stored and charged. Improper charging or use of non-certified batteries can cause overheating, leading to fires that may spread rapidly in confined apartment spaces.
SCDF continues to remind residents to follow fire safety protocols and exercise caution when using and charging PMDs. These include not leaving devices unattended during charging, avoiding overnight charging, and using original batteries and chargers.
The recent spate of incidents underscores the importance of fire safety awareness and adherence to recommended practices, particularly in high-density housing estates such as HDB flats.
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