Fire that killed mum and two children was ‘started by a charging e-bike’
Investigators believe the fire that killed a mother and her two children on Friday was caused by a charging electric bike.
Gemma Germeny, 31, died in the blaze at her home in Cambridge on Friday, along with her two children Oliver Peden, four, and Lilly Peden, eight.
Neighbours reportedly described how Gemma’s ‘hero’ partner, Scott Peden, tried to rescue his family after the fire, which also killed their two dogs, broke out at their home at 1AM on Friday.
Scott, who is in his thirties, is thought to be in a critical condition at hospital after escaping the blaze.
Cambridge Fire and Rescue service announced today their investigators had concluded the most likely cause of the blaze ‘was an e-bike that was charging.’
Area Commander Stuart Smith said: ‘Fire service and specialist investigators, together with police forensic teams and a fire dog, have spent the weekend carrying out a thorough investigation of the maisonette.
‘We know e-bikes and e-scooters are popular modes of personal transport at the moment and we are urging anyone with one to be aware of the potential risks and follow simple precautions to reduce the likelihood of the batteries overheating.’
One local resident, named Debbi, told The Sun: ‘Gemma loved her kids to bits, she was a devoted mum and she had a heart of gold.’
A second neighbour, who witnessed the tragedy take place, reportedly said: ‘I was woken up by what I thought was a car alarm, but it must have been a smoke alarm going off.
‘There was smoke billowing everywhere and I could see flames, and hear the sounds of windows smashing. I didn’t realise how serious it was until I saw some stretchers being wheeled out.’
They added: ‘It was absolutely horrific.’
At least eight people have died and more than 190 have suffered injuries from fires sparked by electric bikes and scooters since 2020.
In May, London Fire Brigade issued a warning over the dangers posed by faulty e-bikes after a man narrowly avoided injury when his vehicle unexpectedly exploded at a block of flats.
The warning cam just two weeks after an e-scooter owner had to spend eight hours in hospital for smoke inhalation after his vehicle’s battery exploded into flames in his hallway.
The man said he was ‘shocked’ and felt ‘lucky to be alive.’
Over the Easter Weekend, faulty e-bikes and scooters were also thought to have caused two house fires in Dalston and Streatham.
London Fire Brigade deputy commissioner Dom Ellis said at the time: ‘The only way to be sure of a legal, safe and reliable e-bike is to buy one in complete form, from a trusted and reputed retailer.’
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