A landlord in Jurong West, Singapore, has evicted a tenant after a power bank fire damaged an apartment. The landlord stated that on Saturday, July 5, a charging power bank exploded in a 4-room apartment at Block 339B Kang Ching Road, causing significant damage to the bedroom.

The apartment owner, a 46-year-old woman identified as Ms. Zhu, told the Chinese daily newspaper Shin Min Daily News that she was renting out two rooms, and all four family members were at home when the fire broke out. Ms. Zhu said she heard a "bang" while having breakfast in the living room. "Suddenly, the living room was filled with smoke. My husband thought someone was performing a ritual, but then we discovered a fire in one of the rooms."

When the landlord couple opened the door to the rented bedroom, the room was filled with thick smoke, and the flames had spread to the air conditioner. Ms. Zhu said her husband extinguished the fire with about five buckets of water. She added, "I was so flustered that I even forgot to call for help."

In a video posted on social media, the landlord explained that the tenant had not turned off the power switch before going out, and the power bank "exploded" while charging. The video first shows the burned power bank on a mattress, then pans to the destroyed bed frame and the charred walls and ceiling. The air conditioning unit above the bed had also melted from the fire. The fire is presumed to have spread from the bed to the air conditioner.

Ms. Zhu told Shin Min Daily that her 8-month-old youngest son was sleeping at the time of the fire, and she didn't know if he had inhaled smoke. After the incident, her son was examined by medical personnel and instructed to be monitored for a week for any signs of breathing difficulties or coughing. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed receiving a report of a power bank-related fire, stating that citizens had extinguished the fire before their officers arrived. The SCDF also added that one person with minor injuries was examined, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

According to Ms. Zhu, the tenant did not apologize after the incident and simply dismissed it as "bad luck." The landlord eventually asked the tenant to move out, and the tenant agreed to replace the damaged mattress and cabinet. She stated that since the air conditioning unit was not frequently used, she did not demand compensation for it.

Ms. Zhu expressed that she was "traumatized by this incident and now worries even when charging her phone." This incident highlights not only the relationship between the tenant and landlord but also serves as an important reminder about the safety of using electronic devices.

Recently, with the surge in power bank usage, related fire incidents have also become frequent. As seen in this Jurong West incident, the explosion of a charging power bank can lead to serious property damage and even personal injury, requiring extreme caution.

Main Causes of Power Bank Fires: 

Overcharging/Over-discharging: The lithium-ion batteries inside power banks can increase internal pressure and overheat, leading to explosion or ignition if excessively charged or discharged. Lower-priced or older products may have a higher risk of this due to malfunctioning safety circuits.

External Impact: Physical impact or drops can damage the internal structure of the battery, causing short circuits and leading to fires.

Use of Defective Products: Uncertified, low-cost, or counterfeit products do not meet safety standards and pose a very high fire risk.

Exposure to High Temperatures: Leaving a power bank in a high-temperature environment, such as inside a car during summer, can rapidly increase the battery's internal temperature, increasing the risk of explosion.

Exposure to Moisture: Exposure to humid environments can cause circuit shorting and lead to fires.

Prolonged Charging: Charging a power bank for extended periods, especially while sleeping or away from home, increases the risk of fire. In this incident, it appears that the tenant leaving a power bank charging unattended was the direct cause of the fire.

Safety Guidelines for Preventing Power Bank Fires: 

Use Genuine and KC Certified Products: Always purchase genuine power banks from reliable brands and choose products with the domestic KC certification mark to ensure safety.

Create a Safe Charging Environment:

Avoid Charging While Sleeping: It is difficult to respond immediately in case of a fire while sleeping, so avoid charging while asleep.
Stop Charging When Away from Home: It's best to turn off all charging devices and unplug them when leaving the house.
Keep Away from Flammable Materials: When charging, do so on a hard, flat surface free from flammable materials such as bedsheets, curtains, or paper.
Prevent Overcharging: Disconnect the charger immediately once charging is complete. Most modern power banks have overcharge protection, but it's good to be cautious.
Avoid Impact and High Temperature Exposure: Be careful not to drop the power bank or subject it to strong impacts. Do not leave it in direct sunlight or inside a car for extended periods during summer.
Be Mindful of Moisture Exposure: Do not store or use power banks in wet or humid places.
Discontinue Use Upon Detecting Abnormalities: If a power bank swells, becomes excessively hot, emits a burning smell, or discolors, stop using it immediately and dispose of it safely.
Regular Inspection and Replacement: Older power banks may have degraded performance and reduced safety. Consider replacing them with new products after a certain period of use. Generally, lithium-ion batteries have a lifespan, and their performance degrades after a certain number of charge cycles.
 
Tenant and Landlord Responsibilities in Residential Fires 

In cases like this, where a fire occurs in a rented property due to tenant negligence, the allocation of responsibility between the tenant and landlord is crucial.

Tenant's Responsibility: According to Article 390 of the Civil Act of the Republic of Korea, there is liability for damages due to non-performance of obligations. A tenant has a duty to manage the rented property with the care of a good manager. Therefore, if a fire occurs due to the tenant's intention or negligence, damaging the property, the tenant is liable for the damages.

In this incident, if a fire occurred due to an unattended charging power bank, it is highly likely to be considered the tenant's negligence or carelessness. Tenants typically have an obligation to restore the property to its original condition under the Residential Lease Protection Act, and therefore, they may be responsible for the repair costs for fire damage.

Landlord's Responsibility: While a landlord generally has an obligation to provide a safe rental property, they are not directly responsible for fires caused by tenant negligence. However, if the fire occurred due to the aging of the building or defects in the facility itself, the landlord could also be held responsible.

In such a case, if the landlord has fire insurance for their building, they can claim compensation for the loss through the insurance. However, if the insurance company determines the tenant's negligence is clear, they may exercise their right of subrogation against the tenant.

Importance of Fire Insurance: It is crucial for both tenants and landlords to have fire insurance to prepare for unforeseen accidents caused by fire.

Tenant (Lessee) Fire Insurance: Tenant fire insurance covers liability for damages caused by fires resulting from the tenant's negligence. It may include a special rider that compensates for damages the tenant must pay the landlord when the rented property is damaged due to the tenant's intention or negligence.
Landlord (Building Owner) Fire Insurance: Building owners should have fire insurance to cover damage to the building itself. This allows them to receive compensation for fire damage caused by natural disasters or third-party negligence, among other things.
This Jurong West incident will be recorded not just as a single fire accident but as a case that clearly illustrates the lack of safety awareness regarding power bank usage, as well as the issues of responsibility that can arise in rental relationships.