An inferno at a house in Bootle, Merseyside, north-west England, last Tuesday, which killed a mother and her three children, was caused by a lithium-ion battery, the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has disclosed.
The mother, 36-year-old Elisha Brabin, and her three children, 16-year-old Leo Brabin; eight-year-old Ellis Brabin and seven-year-old Prudence Brabin, died in the blaze at their home.
Firefighters who were called to the premises in Stone Square at about 3:45 a.m. local time found the bodies of the mother and three children in an upstairs bedroom, while one person found outside was taken to hospital for treatment for burns.
Following the incident, the MFRS explained that an investigation revealed that the blaze was started by an electrical event which caused a lithium-ion battery to go into thermal runaway, Sky News reported on Monday.
The agency, however, stated that the device being used with the battery that caused the fire is yet to be ascertained, as the investigation is ongoing.
MFRS Head of Prevention, Kev Johnson, 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. This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we confirmed as the source of the fire.”
Noting that five deaths and 150 fires in Merseyside between April 2023 and August 2026 were linked to lithium-ion batteries, Mr Johnson urged, “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.”
Fire crews will, during the week, go to communities to give safety advice and reassurance to residents.
A GoFundMe page has also been set up and has so far raised £12,500 to support the grieving family.