An investigation has found that a fire which killed a mother and her three children in Bootle, Merseyside, was caused by a lithium-ion battery.
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 the early hours of Tuesday, September 22.
Investigation findings
The 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.
Background
The fire broke out at the family's home in Bootle, Merseyside, and claimed the lives of the mother and her three children.
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