http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1885186/electric-scooter-bursts-flames-hong-kong-flat 'Hoverboard' electric scooter starts fire in Hong Kong flat 30 November, 2015 Clifford Lo
[image http://cdn2.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980w/public/2015/11/30/hoverboard-fire.jpg?itok=0oT-85ul It is illegal to ride hoverboards outdoors in the city, officials said. Photo: SCMP Pictures ] Pre-dawn blaze in Choi Hung Estate leads to evacuation of some 150 residents, none injured A newly-purchased electric scooter burst into flames in a local public housing flat this morning, leading to the evacuation of about 150 residents. It was being charged in the living room of a seventh-floor flat in Kam Wah House at Choi Hung Estate on Prince Edward Road East in Choi Hung when the pre-dawn blaze broke out at about 5.30am today. Its owner, a 31-year-old man – as well as his 53-year-old mother and his 30-year-old sister – were asleep inside the flat at the time of the incident. The two-wheeled scooter emitted smoke and the man was awakened by choking smoke, according to police. “The man woke up his mother and younger sister before they ran out of the burning flat,” a police source said. Ten fire engines and two ambulances were dispatched to the scene, and about 60 firefighters and paramedics were deployed after receiving a call, according to Fire Services Department. A department spokesman said about 150 people had fled the Kam Wah House, and firemen broke into two flats and led seven residents to safety. “The blaze was extinguished at 5.59am. No one was injured in the incident,” he said adding that the flat was slightly damaged. Initial investigation showed a short-circuit was the suspected cause of the blaze and there were no suspicious circumstances, according to police. It was understood that the electric scooter was purchased for about HK$1,000 on the mainland about two weeks ago. According to the Transport Department, riding self-balancing electric scooters, also known as hoverboards, on streets and pavements in the city is illegal. A recent rise in global interest in the smart-looking, battery-powered two-wheeled gadgets recently prompted the department to classify them as motor vehicles, which must be registered and licensed before they can hit the streets. The department said in a reply to the Post’s queries earlier this month that it would not issue any licences for hoverboards, which it deemed a threat to road safety. In Hong Kong, a driver of an unlicensed vehicle is liable to a maximum fine of HK$5,000 and imprisonment for three months on a first conviction. But the department said it was legal to ride the hoverboards indoors. The department said it was still investigating the cause of the blaze. [© 2015 South China Morning Post] % The evdl,nabble s pam filter is preventing the posting of all the links I have researched. So, this post will be updated with more later> revisit it on the evdl.org archive to see them % For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Only-You-Can-Prevent-Hoverboard-fires-tp4679021.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
