A lithium-ion battery caused a house fire that killed a mother and her three children in the United Kingdom, the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has said.
Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children, Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prudence, seven, died after the fire broke out at a house on Stone Square in Bootle, Merseyside, in the early hours of September 22.
The fire reportedly spread rapidly through the semi-detached property, with six fire engines deployed to the scene at the height of the blaze around 3:45am.
Following an investigation with Merseyside Police, the fire service said an electrical event linked to a lithium-ion battery was responsible for the blaze.
Such batteries are commonly used in e-bikes and e-scooters.
Kev Johnson of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said, “This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we confirmed as the source of the fire.”
Four people were found upstairs in a bedroom showing no signs of life, while a man was taken to hospital for treatment for burns.
Johnson described the incident as devastating and commended the efforts of firefighters and North West Ambulance Service personnel who tried to save the victims.
“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,” Johnson said.
He commended the efforts of staff and NWAS colleagues “who made every effort to provide a different outcome”.
“Sadly this was not the case due to the speed and intensity of the fire,” he said.
The fire service said it had recorded 150 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries across Merseyside between April 2023 and August 2026, with five deaths associated with the batteries.
MFRS has not established what the battery involved in the Bootle fire was being used for, but warned that lithium-ion batteries are frequently found in e-bikes and e-scooters.
Johnson urged users to follow manufacturers’ instructions and use only batteries and chargers supplied with or approved for their vehicles.
“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.”
Brabin’s relatives described her as a “devoted and loving mother who lived for her children”, saying the family had been left “heartbroken” by the loss.
They added that their “unimaginable” loss would be “felt forever” and said, “our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure”.
The family said they were “devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence”, adding, “They have all been taken from us far too soon.”
