A tragic house fire, ignited by an e-bike battery, claimed the lives of a young couple and their pets in Coventry.
Natasha Johnson Mall, 27, and Karlo Bogdan, 24, perished in the Coventry fire. It happened early in the morning on November 8. A firefighter called it one of the worst fires ever.
The firefighter said the heat was intense, and everything inside was burning quickly. Steps, walls, ceilings, and doors all burned as the fire spread.
West Midlands Fire Service is warning people about e-bikes. E-bike battery fires rose 50% in two years. An inquest found the couple’s deaths accidental, concluding on February 19.
Natasha’s sister, Ehsia, spoke about her sister’s life, saying the world lost a precious person. Ehsia will never look at life the same way following the tragic loss.
Ehsia urged caution when buying e-bikes, advising people to only buy tested, safe e-bikes they can afford.
A fire chief wants action taken about e-bikes, stating that lithium-ion battery fires are a big risk. The fires spread fast and quickly destroy homes.
Firefighters advise charging e-bikes when awake and unplugging the bike when it is fully charged. Experts say use only approved chargers and to be careful with e-bike conversion kits.