A reality TV star and Playboy model has lost ‘everything’ after an e-bike battery exploded and set her home on fire.
Kari Ann Peniche claims her life was changed in a ‘matter of seconds’ when her family home burst into flames.
The 42-year-old claims her son noticed a funny smell, which the pair originally thought was their neighbour cooking ‘broccoli’.
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The 15-year-old and his friend began investigating before the pal spotted the smoking battery.
Moments later it exploded – engulfing the entire property in flames.
The shocking incident took place on the night of 5 Nov, as reported by Need To Know.
Kari Ann Peniche said: “We started noticing a bad smell in our living room.
“At first I thought maybe a neighbor was cooking broccoli or that our cat had brought a dead animal into the house.
“My son started looking around to figure out where the smell was coming from and that’s when his friend noticed that his e-bike battery had started smoking.
“Within moments, the battery began exploding and in a matter of seconds, our home was engulfed in flames.
“I can’t even begin to explain how terrifying it was and how quickly everything happened.
“There was no time to grab anything.
“No time to think.
“Just enough time to get everyone out.
“By the grace of God everyone made it out safely, including all of our pets.”
Sadly, the fire completely destroyed the TV star and model’s five-bedroom family home in Troutdale, Oregon.
The accident engulfed her artwork, paintings, Playboys and magazines she had appeared in over the years, and even took her gowns from pageant days.
She said: “We lost everything.
“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.
“I’m still trying to process it all.
“It’s heartbreaking and overwhelming to think about, but at the same time I have never felt so incredibly grateful because, as devastating as this is, I know how easily this could have ended so differently.
“Everything we lost was just stuff… I keep thinking what if we had already been asleep? What if nobody had noticed the smell?
“It’s a terrifying thought.
“I’m sharing this because I hope our experience can be a warning to others about just how dangerous lithium-ion batteries can be when they fail.
“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.
“Learn the warning signs, take precautions and don’t ever ignore a strange smell.
“Right now, I’m feeling just about every emotion imaginable but more than anything, incredibly thankful that we’re all still here.
“We lost our home and everything inside it, but we still have each other.”
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