Fire which killed mother and three children caused by battery

A fire which killed a mother and three children was caused by a lithium-ion battery, an investigation has found.

Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children Leo Brabin, 16, Ellis Brabin, eight, and seven-year-old Prudence Brabin died in the fire at their home in Bootle, Merseyside, in the early hours of Tuesday, September 22.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze found it was started by an electrical event which caused a lithium-ion battery to go into thermal runaway, a spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) said.

Thermal runaway occurs when the battery generates more heat than it can safely release, causing its temperature to rise rapidly and uncontrollably.

Ms Brabin and her children were found in an upstairs bedroom by firefighters who were called to the home, on Stone Square, at about 3.45am.

A fifth casualty was taken to hospital suffering from burns.

Kev Johnson, head of prevention at MFRS, said: “This is a devastating incident, and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the mother and children who lost their lives and those who were injured.

“I would like to commend the efforts of our fire control staff and our fire crews, also working with NWAS colleagues, who made every effort to provide a different outcome, but sadly this was not the case due to the speed and intensity of the fire.

“This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we confirmed as the source of the fire.”

Emergency personnel at the scene of the fire in Stone Square, Bootle (Eleanor Barlow/PA)

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The fire service has not confirmed what the battery was being used for, but they are often found in e-bikes and e-scooters.

The service said there had been 150 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries in Merseyside between April 2023 and August 2026, and five fatalities linked to the batteries.

Mr Johnson said: “We’re urging people to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, only using batteries and chargers which have been supplied with the vehicle or approved by the manufacturer, as anything else can pose a huge fire risk.

“It’s also important to know and recognise the signs that your lithium-ion battery may be failing – if it is swelling, making unusual sounds, has a strong smell, is failing to charge, or is smoking, please stop using immediately.”

Following their deaths, the family of Ms Brabin said she was a “devoted and loving mother who lived for her children”.

They said: “The tragic loss of Elisha and our three precious children has left us heartbroken. They have all been taken from us far too soon.

“The loss we are experiencing is unimaginable, and the impact on our family will be felt forever.”