Coventry fire which killed two people caused by 'charging device'

A devastating flat fire which claimed the lives of two people was caused by a charging e-bike battery. Flames tore through the apartment on The Coppice in Stoke Aldermoor, Coventry, on Friday morning (November 8), killing a man and a woman.

Following an investigation with the fire service, West Midlands Police said the tragedy was sparked by the battery pack of an e-bike on charge. A file will be passed on the coroner.

In a statement, the force said: "The tragic deaths of two people following a house fire in Coventry is not being treated as suspicious. We've been working alongside West Midlands Fire Service to investigate the fire on The Coppice on Friday morning (8 November).

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"Fire investigators have now confirmed the cause of the fire was accidental and caused by the battery pack of an e-bike on charge. Our thoughts remain with the man and woman who died, and we’ll now both assist the coroner with their enquiries."

Neighbours expressed their 'sadness' at the tragedy, with one describing the incident as 'heartbreaking.' Resident Sophie Buckley, 32, told CoventryLive : “I did not hear anything. I opened my front door and I thought something has clearly happened, and then I drove down there and I realised that it had been blocked off down there as well, so that is when I realised that something serious has probably happened."

Sophie said her boyfriend left their home at around 5.50am and told her that 'something serious had happened.' She said: “He did not have a clue what was happening until I rang him back and told him what had happened.

"He did not see anything, hear anything, or smell no smoke or nothing. I think it is shocking. Two people have lost their lives, and it is just sad.

"No matter the circumstances, it is sad. I think this has shocked everybody. I did not expect to wake up this morning to that, and my heart goes out to the family members really.” Another woman, who lives opposite The Coppice, said: “It is tragic. My thoughts just go out to the family.”