Firefighters recall a fatal Coventry flat fire. An e-bike explosion killed a couple and their dogs in Stoke Aldermoor.
The couple died in the fierce fire that tore through their home on November 8, 2024. Their beloved dogs, Medusa and Tyagi, also perished in the home located on The Coppice.
Investigators determined that the fire started with an e-bike battery that had ignited. Firefighters are trying to raise awareness to prevent future deaths or injuries.
Firefighter Claire Davidson shared that house fires at night raise adrenaline because people inside are more likely to be asleep. Dell Haughton also spoke about the fire’s intensity.
Dell Haughton, from Binley Fire Station, added that the smoke was so thick when they arrived that they couldn’t even see the houses. He described it as one of the hottest fires ever, saying he felt the heat through his gloves as everything burned intensely.
Claire said thermal imaging didn’t work well because the room was too hot and the screen blanked. Dell described the room as completely burned and called the tragedy devastating, saying it was one of the worst incidents he’d seen.
Fire Investigator Annette Carrington described the damage as devastating to the property, stating that nothing was recognizable. The fire had deeply charred everything, and the heat source was very intense, hottest at the stairs’ base.
Carrington analyzed the e-bike’s battery and found that it had overheated and exploded, with about 80 cells rupturing. This caused a rapidly developing fire, highlighting the risks associated with them.
Firefighter Haughton offered safety advice to prevent injuries and fatalities, urging people to close doors at night, as a basic door provides about 20 minutes of protection. Claire added that closing doors helps slow the spread of smoke and fire, giving people time to escape safely, and quilts can be used to block smoke under the door for further protection.
Emily Fernandez, WMFS Head of Prevention, noted an increasing trend of e-bike fires in Coventry and the Black Country. These incidents doubled between 2022 and 2023, indicating a worrying rise in the number of incidents.
Emily advised against storing e-bikes near exits or escapes to ensure that fires do not block your escape route. Safe exits are essential for getting out of properties quickly in the event of a fire.