A couple tragically died alongside their dogs in a horror fire caused by an e-bike battery with the blaze so bad a firefighter couldn’t even see the house.
Natasha Johnson-Mall, 27, and her boyfriend Karole Bogdan, 24, “didn’t have a chance” to escape an inferno which roared through home.
As the Mirror reports the e-bike was in the corridor of their maisonette in Stoke Aldermoor, Coventry. The battery ignited in the early hours of November 8, with flames rapidly spreading through the property. Firefighters said the fire could only flow straight up the stairs and into the bedroom, through an open door.
Dell Haughton, a firefighter who attended the blaze, said it was “one of the worst” he’d ever seen, and on approach, he couldn’t even see the house which was on fire because the smoke was so thick.
“The intensity and the heat was very, very hot,” he said. “It’s one of the hottest incidents I’ve ever been in. […] Everything was on fire. All the steps were on fire. All the walls were on fire. All the ceiling was on fire. All the doors were on fire.”
Talking of entering the bedroom, and seeing the two dogs, he added: “I’ve seen some bad incidents in my 21 years, but this is without doubt one of the worst I’ve ever seen. It was horrible.” An inquest concluded their deaths were accidental. West Midlands Fire Service today released a film urging the public to take care of e-bikes.
The service said the couple were unable to escape, and despite the best efforts from crews, they were pronounced dead at the scene. “The world has lost a truly precious person-uniquely thoughtful and beautiful in every way,” said Natasha’s sister, Ehsia.
“I’ll never be the same, and I’ll never look at life the same. Unless you can afford to purchase an e-bike that has undergone rigorous testing and safety checks, do not buy one.” West Midlands Fire Service has seen a 50 per cent rise in e-bike and lithium-ion related battery fires in the last two years.
Assistant chief fire officer Richard Stanton urged action. “It’s tragic that Natasha and Karlo lost their lives,” he said. “Their families have shown incredible courage and compassion by speaking out in our video, hoping others might learn from this heartbreaking incident.
“The rapid escalation of fires involving lithium-ion batteries poses a serious risk. Without proper precautions, these fires can devastate homes and lives within minutes.” Experts said owners should charge E-bike while awake, unplug once fully charged, use the approved charger that came with the product, and exercise extreme caution with conversion kits.