Fire which killed Blackpool parents started by exploding e-bike battery - but rented property had no smoke alarm
Blackpool Council likely to begin investigation as rented properties having a smoke alarm is a legal requirement
The fire which caused the death of the parents of two young boys was caused by a lithium e-bike battery, an inquest heard.
Danielle Bamber, 24, and Joshua Pearson, 28, were both killed when a battery pack exploded inside the Peter Street home in July. One of their boys, aged six, was rescued by neighbours who smashed glass on the front door to set him free before the younger sibling was rescued by emergency workers.
An inquest into the deaths took place at Blackpool Town Hall today (5 December) and heard several 999 calls were made when the fire rapidly spread at around 2.30am. Firefighters were on scene within minutes, by which point the older boy had been rescued and was being cared for by neighbours.
As crews battled to put out the fire on the ground floor, a search of the first floor was carried out and the younger boy was taken to safety and Joshua was found unconscious. He was taken away in an ambulance but had suffered extensive smoke inhalation and was unable to be saved. Danielle was found downstairs but had already died, senior coroner Alan Wilson explained.
Giving evidence, Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Matthew Cieka explained the impact of smoke inhalation was both quick and aggressive and was the medical cause of death for Danielle, while Joshua’s was recorded as “effects of fire”.
Dr Cieka added that while ketamine was found in Joshua's blood, this was attributed to the emergency medical treatment and that no drugs or alcohol were otherwise found present in either parent.
An investigation by forensic scientist Paola Ponticelli concluded that the fire broke out suddenly from e-bike battery packs which were being stored in the living room. She referenced CCTV footage from outside the address which showed “several flashing lights with bangs and crackles” and then minutes later two loud bangs occurred and smoke began to appear.
She said analysis of the house found several bikes being stored inside the living and dining area, and that copper discharges found in the most damaged area pointed towards a lithium battery having exploded.
DCI John McNamara was questioned by Mr Wilson and agreed that while previous issues with neighbours - “including violence and criminal damage” - initially caused concern, there was no reason to suggest anyone else was involved.
Meanwhile, analysis of Joshua’s phone showed he was involved in the buying, selling and repairing of cars and e-bikes, with “clear evidence” he had been tampering with batteries and that he had had issues with one bike in particular.
Summing up one piece of evidence, Mr Wilson said: “Joshua had a hobby where he would buy and sell e-bikes. He would do them from home and stored the bikes in the dining room. Danielle didn’t like this and asked him to keep them outside but he continued to do so.”
The inquest also heard there were no smoke alarms fitted inside the privately-rented house. This would be a breach of the Landlord and Tenant Act which requires at least one alarm to be fitted on each floor of rented accommodation and is to be investigated by Blackpool Council.
While he said the smoke alarm would probably have made no difference to the outcome, Mr Wilson said: “I’ll be writing to Blackpool Council about that issue relating to the alarms. It’s a private rented property but I will be writing to the council about that as a matter of concern.”
Concluding the inquest, Mr Wilson said the fire was a result of over-charging and a “deficient battery management system”.
He said: “I’m confident that from the available evidence that the batteries were very likely to be the cause of the fire and I’m absolutely clear that this is not an incident that should have led to any criminal proceedings.”
Mr Wilson recorded conclusions of accidental death.
An in-depth report from the inquest will be included in The Blackpool Lead newsletter for subscribers - free and paying - on Sunday.
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