Key facts
- A house fire in Bootle, Merseyside, killed Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prudence, seven.
- Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed a lithium-ion battery caused the fire.
- The fire occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, September 22.
- A fifth person was taken to hospital with burns.
A mother and her three children died in a house fire in Bootle, Merseyside, which was caused by a lithium-ion battery. Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prudence, seven, were found in an upstairs bedroom after the blaze spread rapidly through the property in the early hours of September 22.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) confirmed following an investigation that an electrical event linked to a lithium-ion battery was the source of the fire. Kev Johnson, head of prevention at MFRS, stated that the tragedy highlights the real risks posed by these batteries, which are commonly used in vapes, e-bikes and e-scooters.
A fifth person was taken to hospital suffering from burns. MFRS reported 150 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries in Merseyside between April 2023 and August 2026, with five fatalities recorded. The service urged the public to follow manufacturer instructions for battery and charger use and to be aware of signs of battery failure, such as swelling, unusual sounds, strong smells, or smoking.