A young couple and their two dogs died in an accidental house fire caused by an e-bike battery in Coventry.
Neighbors called 999 on November 8, 2024. They saw a big fire at The Coppice. Firefighters found Natasha, Karlo, and their dogs dead. The dogs were named Tyagi and Medusa.
The fire service discovered the fire started from an e-bike battery. A firefighter called it the worst fire he’d seen. He worked for 21 years.
West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) reported a large increase in e-bike battery fires. E-bike and e-scooter fires doubled in a year between 2022 and 2023.
Richard Stanton, who works for the fire service, spoke about the couple’s death. He said their families showed courage and hope others learn from the incident.
Ehsia made a plea on February 19. She recommends buying tested e-bikes, as cheaper, untested e-bikes may be dangerous. Look for safety checks.
Natasha’s family described her as thoughtful and beautiful. Ehsia, her sister, will never be the same; life changed for her completely.
Emily Fernandez also gave advice. She works for the WMFS and said to use e-bikes as instructed, as it could save your life.
She wants people to be careful. Always charge e-bikes while awake and unplug them when fully charged. It is important to use the charger that came with it and be careful with conversion kits. If you can, charge e-bikes outside. Never charge them in hallways or near exits.