Jurong West tenant evicted after power bank explosion sparks bedroom fire

SINGAPORE: A landlord in Jurong West has evicted a tenant after a power bank allegedly exploded while charging, sparking a fire that destroyed part of a bedroom and endangered her family — including her eight-month-old baby.

The incident occurred at around 11am on 5 July in a four-room HDB flat at Block 339B Kang Ching Road, according to Shin Min Daily News.

Homeowner Zhu (name transliterated), 46, lives in the flat with her husband, their 15-year-old son, and their infant son. Two rooms in the flat had been rented out long-term to four tenants.

Fire sparked by charging power bank

Zhu recounted that she was having breakfast in the living room when she suddenly heard a sound resembling a power trip. It turned out to be a power bank explosion in one of the rooms.

“In an instant, the living room was filled with smoke. My husband initially thought someone was performing a ritual, but we soon realised that a fire had broken out in the room,” she said.

When she opened the bedroom door, thick smoke billowed out, and flames had already reached the air-conditioning unit.

At the time, her elder son was showering while the baby was asleep.

Her husband quickly fetched water to extinguish the fire, using five buckets in total. Zhu admitted she panicked and even forgot to call for help.

Extensive damage to room

A video provided by Zhu showed extensive damage: the mattress and bed frame were scorched, a nearby cabinet and plastic storage container had melted, and the walls and ceiling were blackened by smoke.

A charred power bank was found among the debris, and the air-conditioner was also damaged.

Zhu said she had reminded tenants on multiple occasions not to leave devices charging when they were out, but her warnings were ignored.

“The tenant did not apologise afterwards — he showed no remorse at all. He just said he was unlucky,” she added.

Tenant evicted after incident

Following the incident, Zhu issued an eviction notice. The tenant agreed to replace the damaged cabinet and mattress, one of which belonged to another occupant.

Zhu said she did not seek compensation for the air-conditioner as it was rarely used and had been installed over a decade ago.

Although the family managed to contain the fire, Zhu expressed concern about her infant son, who was asleep during the incident and may have inhaled smoke.

Paramedics assessed the baby on-site and advised the family to monitor him for any signs of breathing difficulties or coughing over the following week.

Zhu estimated that repainting the affected room would cost around S$680.

She added that the incident has left her feeling anxious about leaving electronic devices charging unattended.

SCDF confirms investigation ongoing

In response to media queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that they were alerted to a fire involving a power bank in the bedroom of a third-floor unit at Block 339B Kang Ching Road.

By the time SCDF officers arrived, the blaze had already been extinguished by members of the public.

SCDF said one person was assessed for minor injuries but declined hospital conveyance.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.