SINGAPORE, Oct 22 — A family of seven were trapped in their Yishun HDB flat on Monday after a personal mobility aid (PMA) battery caught fire in the corridor.

According to AsiaOne, the family owns three PMAs — two for the grandparents and one for the mother, 51, a food delivery rider. 

The devices had been used safely for three years with original batteries, but the mother had borrowed a cheaper replacement that ignited shortly after being plugged in.

The blaze quickly spread, igniting another PMA. 

The family barricaded themselves inside, with four-month-old granddaughter suffering minor smoke inhalation, but no one else was seriously injured.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) extinguished the fire and evacuated around 25 residents as a precaution. Investigators said the fire likely started from the faulty PMA battery.

Nee Soon GRC MP Goh Hanyan said electricity to two units was temporarily affected and thanked emergency responders for their swift action. 

She added that volunteers and SCDF will visit the block on Thursday to raise awareness on fire safety.