Family leads safety message after catastrophic fatal e-bike fire in Coventry
It happened last November.
Last updated 20th Feb 2025
The deaths of a young West Midlands couple, who perished along with their two dogs in a fire caused by an e-bike battery, have been ruled as accidental by HM Coroner.
An inquest into the deaths of Natasha and Karlo was held in Coventry yesterday.
Now, West Midlands Fire Service has released a film urging the public to take care of e-bikes following the fatal house fire in Coventry in November 2024.
The blaze, which one experienced firefighter said was the hottest and worst he’s seen in 21 years, has led to grieving families, supported by West Midlands Fire Service, sharing a heartfelt plea to help others stay safe.
A Tragic Night in Stoke Aldermoor
In November, the catastrophic property fire in Coventry claimed the lives of Natasha and Karlo, along with their beloved dogs, Tyagi and Medusa.
The fire broke out in their maisonette, leaving the couple unable to escape. Despite the best efforts of WMFS crews, Natasha, Karlo, and their dogs 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." Ehsia said in a heartfelt plea: "Unless you can afford to purchase an e-bike that has undergone rigorous testing and safety checks, do not buy one."
E-bike fires: A rising danger in the UK
West Midlands Fire Service say they've seen an enormous rise in e-bike and lithium-ion related battery fires in the last two years.
Over the past two years, WMFS has recorded a 50% increase in fires linked to lithium-ion batteries, with incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters doubling between 2022 and 2023.
National trends mirror these alarming statistics, with incident numbers set to increase when 2024’s statistics become available.
With these products becoming increasingly popular, it’s crucial to understand the risks associated with them, and how you can stay safe if you own them.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Richard Stanton expressed his condolences and urged action: "It’s tragic that Natasha and Karlo lost their lives. 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.”
How to stay safe
Emily Fernandez, Head of Prevention at WMFS, emphasised the importance of vigilance when using e-bikes: It’s vital and potentially life-saving that people use these products exactly as instructed. Always charge your E-bike while you’re awake, unplug it once fully charged, use the approved charger that came with the product, and exercise extreme caution with conversion kits.
“If possible, charge e-bikes outside residential properties, and never charge them in corridors or near fire exits, should you need to leave your home.”
Purchase from reputable sources: Only buy e-bikes, chargers, and batteries from trusted retailers.
Avoid conversion kits: These often bypass critical safety features and are highly dangerous.
Charge safely: Only charge devices while you’re awake and present.
Unplug chargers as soon as the battery is fully charged.
Never charge in escape routes, corridors, or enclosed areas.
Inspect batteries regularly: Check for signs of deformities, overheating, unusual smells, or hissing sounds.
If any of these issues occur, stop using the battery immediately and contact the fire service by calling 999.
A spokesperson at Electrical Safety First: “We are deeply saddened to hear of yet more loss of life related to a battery fire. Our thoughts go out to the friends and family affected by this awful tragedy.
“Battery fires can be ferocious due to the high levels of energy they store. It is essential new laws are introduced to better regulate e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries to stem the spate of fires across the country.
“As the Government’s Product Regulation and Metrology Bill progresses through Parliament, it is imperative it adequately tackles the complex issues surrounding lithium-ion battery fires. We continue to urge the Government to introduce new safety standards for conversion kits and charging systems to reduce the risk posed by battery fires in the home, as well as third-party certification for e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries. Online marketplaces must also be regulated, to stem substandard products entering the market.”