Man Rescues 2 Pet Dogs From Fire, Suffers Burns & Passes Away
In Jul 2019, a PMD fire from a Bukit Batok flat led to over 70 residents being evacuated.
Unfortunately, amongst the 3 resulting casualties, it was made known this week that one had succumbed to his injuries just 2 days after.
Bukit Batok Flat Catches Fire After PMD Explodes; Residents Rush To Help Before SCDF Arrives
He allegedly sustained fatal injuries while trying to save his 2 pet dogs from the fire.
Man rescues pet dogs from fire
The deceased individual is a 40-year-old man who’s the owner of the flat that caught fire, reports Channel NewsAsia (CNA).
At around 12.30am on 18 Jul 2019, his wife reportedly heard noises in the living room and woke up.
Upon opening the bedroom door, smoke started entering from the living room, she testifies.
When the couple retreated to the toilet awaiting the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), they heard their 2 dogs barking in the living room.
The deceased then left to save their pets, reports CNA. However, upon returning, he couldn’t get his hands on the overheated toilet door handle.
Man passed out & was in cardiac arrest
SCDF and police officers then arrived at the scene and forced open the door to their unit on the 26th floor.
They reportedly found the owner unconscious on the floor and his wife standing on the aircon ledge outside the toilet window.
After arriving at the hospital, the 40-year-old was found to be in cardiac arrest. He also suffered second-degree burns on 40% of his body, reports CNA.
He, unfortunately, passed away 2 days later on 20 Jul 2019 from multi-organ failure.
But thankfully, to his belated consolation, their 2 dogs were safe and sound.
Fire caused by overheated charging PMDs
Investigations by SCDF point to the charging Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) in the living room as the origin of the fire.
Overheating of the PMD’s two-pin plug and charging port likely caused the fire, cites CNA from a technical report.
Charge PMDs away from flammable objects
In light of potential safety hazards, only UL2272 certified PMDs are allowed on cycling paths in Singapore from Jul 2020.
To avoid similar incidents, here are some charging guidelines PMD owners can follow:
- Charge PMD away from flammable material
- Don’t charge PMD immediately after using
- Don’t leave battery charging even after it’s full, especially overnight
Condolences to deceased’s loved ones
MS News sends our condolences to the deceased’s family, who gave his life saving their beloved pets.
Meanwhile, let this be a reminder for all PMD owners to be extra careful when charging their devices.
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