Kari Ann Peniche has lost her home after an e-boke battery suddenly caught fire and exploded. Peniche, a former Playboy model, shared a post on Instagram, explaining the situation she found herself in. Separate posts also showed the moment the fire took hold of her home.
Videos by Wide Open Country
"Thursday night our lives changed in a matter of seconds," she said in one of her posts.
The incident took place on Thursday, November 5. Peniche recalls the family noticing the smell late at night. However, she recalled initially brushing off her concern.
"At first I thought maybe a neighbor was cooking broccoli or that our cat had brought a dead animal into the house," she wrote in an Instagram post.
However, Peniche's son began searching for the source of the odor. Shortly after, her son's friend noticed that a battery on an e-bike had begun smoking.
"Within moments the battery began exploding, and in a matter of seconds our home was engulfed in flames," Peniche recalled. "I can't even begin to explain how terrifying it was and how quickly everything happened."
Given the rapid escalation of the situation, Peniche, nor her family, had time to gather their belongings. Instead, they had to evacuate the premises immediately.
"No time to think. Just enough time to get everyone out," she said.
The Former Playboy Model Lost Everything
Peniche has since noted that all of her family, including their pets, were able to get out of the house unharmed. Unfortunately, all of their belongings were destroyed in the fire.
"We lost everything," she said. "Our home, everything we own, our clothes, photos, art, electronics, and irreplaceable things that held a lifetime of memories. Things that no amount of money could ever replace."
Despite such a horrendous situation, Peniche has noted that all she feels is gratitude. After all, things could have turned out far worse, and possessions, for the most part, can be replaced.
"I keep thinking what if we had already been asleep? What if nobody had noticed the smell? It's a terrifying thought," she said.
Since the incident, Peniche has urged others to be careful of keeping e-bikes at home.
"I had absolutely no idea a battery could cause this much destruction in such a short amount of time ... Please be careful with e-bikes, scooters and anything powered by rechargeable lithium batteries."
There's no denying that Peniche's situation must have been terrifying. Fortunately, she and her family are safe. Things could have turned out so much worse.
