More than 120 homes in Bootle have been visited for safety checks following the deaths of a mum and her three children in a fire sparked by an e-scooter battery. Elisha Brabin, 36, died alongside her children Leo Brabin, 16, Ellis Brabin, eight, and Prudence Brabin, seven, in the blaze, which took place at around 3.45am on Tuesday, September 20.
Fire service confirms cause
Emergency services were called to Stone Square after reports that a semi-detached house was "well alight". The fire service later confirmed that four people were found in a bedroom upstairs and were all pronounced dead at the scene. A fifth person was taken to hospital suffering from burns.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) said the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery. The service added that the battery belonged to an electric scooter and was being charged when an "electrical event" caused it to rapidly spike in temperature.
Community reassurance campaign
Following the incident, the fire service completed a community reassurance campaign in the Bootle area this week. Firefighters, prevention staff and partners from Merseyside Police, Sefton Council and One Vision Housing visited homes and spoke to residents about fire safety, lithium-ion batteries and the importance of working smoke alarms.
The campaign saw 124 home fire safety checks completed. Of these, 10 were identified as elevated risk and referred to MFRS prevention for a "safe and well" visit in the near future. A total of 65 smoke alarms were installed during the campaign. A further 117 properties were visited where residents either declined a home fire safety check, or information was provided through leafleting.
Advice for residents
MFRS head of prevention Kevin Johnson said: "We know this has been an incredibly difficult incident for the local community, and it was important to us that we came back into the area to speak directly to residents and offer reassurance and practical fire safety advice.
"Working alongside our partners has allowed us to reach more people and make sure residents have the information and support they need to help keep themselves and their families safe.
"We're also reminding residents about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, which are found in many everyday items. It is important to use the correct charger, follow the manufacturer's instructions and never ignore warning signs that a battery may be failing."
Residents are urged to stop using a lithium-ion battery immediately if it begins to swell, makes unusual sounds, develops a strong smell, fails to charge or starts smoking. MFRS is also urging people to make sure they have working smoke alarms on every level of their home and to test them regularly.
Residents are also being encouraged to familiarise themselves with the escape routes from their home and make sure everyone in the household knows what to do in the event of a fire. All internal doors should be closed at night to help slow the spread of fire and smoke. If a fire blocks your escape route and you cannot get out safely, close the door and block the bottom with towels or bedding to help prevent smoke from entering. Call 999 and tell the operator where you are and signal from a window if you can.
