Investigators have confirmed that a lithium-ion battery caused the house fire in Bootle that killed a mother and her three children. The blaze broke out at a semi-detached home on Stone Square at around 3.45am on Tuesday, September 20, with emergency crews called to reports that the home was 'well-alight'.
Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children Leo Brabin, 16, Ellis Brabin, eight, and Prudence Brabin, seven, all died in the fire. A fifth person was hospitalised with burns.
Cause of the fire
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) confirmed that the blaze was started by a lithium-ion battery. A joint investigation by the MFRS incident investigation team and Merseyside Police concluded that the fire was triggered by an 'electrical event', which caused the battery to enter thermal runaway - a dangerous chain reaction that produces a rapid surge in temperature, ultimately resulting in fire.
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. I would like to commend the efforts of our fire control staff and our fire crews, also working with NWAS colleagues, who made every effort to provide a different outcome, but sadly this was not the case due to the speed and intensity of the fire."
He added: "This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we confirmed as the source of the fire."
Family tribute
Following their deaths, the family of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence said: "Elisha was our beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunty, niece and cousin. She was a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children.
"They were her whole world, and she meant everything to us. Our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure and brought so much joy, happiness and love to our family. They filled our lives with laughter and precious memories that we will cherish forever."
Lithium-ion battery fires in Merseyside
Between April 2023 and August 2026, Merseyside recorded 150 fires involving items containing lithium-ion batteries, with 45 per cent (67) of those occurring in residential properties. Of the fires that broke out in people's homes, 45 per cent (30) took place between 9pm and 8am.
Since April 2023, five people in Merseyside have lost their lives in lithium-ion battery-related fires - accounting for more than a quarter of all fire fatalities during that period. Among those victims was eight-year-old Luke Albiston-O'Donnell, who died following a fire at his home on Keele Close, on the Beechwood Estate in Birkenhead, on August 4, 2024.
Investigators established that the blaze had been triggered by a defective lithium battery in an electric bike, which was on charge at the front of the property. At Luke's inquest, the coroner urged greater public awareness of the 'life-threatening' dangers of keeping electric bikes and scooters inside the home.
Safety warnings and community visits
Mr Johnson added: "We're urging 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 are set to visit the local community this week to offer safety guidance and reassurance to residents.
Home fire safety advice for e-bikes, e-scooters and lithium-ion batteries includes: always use manufacturer-recommended batteries and chargers; never block escape routes with e-bikes or e-scooters; never charge these devices overnight; check batteries and chargers meet UK safety standards; inspect batteries for damage and stop using if damaged; let batteries cool before charging and unplug chargers once finished; ensure working smoke alarms on every level of the home; keep internal doors closed at night; and in the event of a fire, get out, stay out and call 999.
Signs that a lithium-ion battery may be failing include swelling or bulging, hissing or cracking sounds, a strong or unusual smell, failure to charge or slow charging, and smoke or gas. If any of these signs are noticed, users should stop using the e-bike, e-scooter or battery straight away.
