ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – A total of 58 reported fires were linked to power banks between 2019 and 2024, with 2024 seeing the highest number of such incidents ever at 13.
There were 10 such fires in 2023, 11 each in 2021 and 2022, six in 2020 and seven in 2019, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in response to queries from The Straits Times on Monday.
Power banks have made the headlines recently amid incidents, including 650 commuters having to alight at Raffles Place MRT station after a woman’s power bank caught fire in a train cabin.
Another fire destroyed an Air Busan plane on the tarmac in South Korea in January, after which a number of airlines banned passengers from using power banks on planes.
Singapore Airlines and Scoot said that passengers aboard flights will not be allowed to use power banks to charge their personal devices from April 1.
They will also not be allowed to charge portable power banks via on-board USB ports for the duration of the flight, the airlines said, citing safety reasons for the move.
SCDF urged the public to store the batteries at room temperature and keep them away from combustible or flammable materials, such as paper, wood or petroleum products.
Power banks should not be exposed to heat sources – including direct sunlight – or be placed near a heat-emitting device such as a laptop or smartphone.
Before using power banks, people should examine them for signs of damage or deformities. Charging-damaged batteries may lead to overheating or even the risk of a fire.
When charging power banks, users should unplug them when the charge cycle is full to prevent overcharging.
SCDF said that some battery models do not have an automatic power cut-off function and overcharging may cause permanent damage to the battery, leading to battery swelling, venting and other thermal or electrical issues such as overheating or short-circuiting.
Batteries should be charged on hard flat surfaces such as desks and tables to allow for optimal dissipation of heat.
Power banks should not be used under blankets or pillows, or in bags or closed spaces such as drawers.
Users of power banks should follow the instructions provided by the manufacturers and use manufacturer-approved chargers, SCDF added.
