Investigators have confirmed that a house fire in Bootle which killed a mother and her three children was caused by a lithium-ion battery. Elisha Brabin, 36, died alongside her children Leo Brabin, 16, Ellis Brabin, eight, and Prudence Brabin, seven, in the blaze at around 3.45am on Tuesday, September 20.
Fire at Stone Square
Emergency services were called to Stone Square in the Sefton town following 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.
In a statement, 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."
Investigation findings
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) has now confirmed the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery. Following an investigation by the MFRS incident investigation team and Merseyside Police, the cause was determined to be an "electrical event", causing the battery to go into thermal runaway - a chain reaction causing a rapid spike in temperature, 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.
"This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we confirmed as the source of the fire."
Wider risk and safety advice
There were 150 fires linked to items containing lithium-ion batteries in Merseyside between April 2023 and August 2026. Of these, 45% (67) occurred in someone's home. Of those home fires, 45% (30) occurred between 9pm and 8am. Since April 2023 there have been five fatalities in Merseyside related to lithium-ion batteries - more than a quarter of all fatalities in fires during that period.
This includes 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. An investigation found the fire had been caused by a faulty lithium battery in an electric bike, which had been charging at the front of the house. At Luke's inquest, the coroner called for greater public awareness of the "life-threatening" risks of storing electronic bikes and scooters in the home.
Mr Johnson said: "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 will go out into the local community this week to provide safety advice and reassurance to residents.
Home fire safety advice
MFRS has issued the following advice for e-bikes, e-scooters and lithium-ion batteries: always use manufacturer-recommended batteries and chargers; never block escape routes with e-bikes or e-scooters; never charge these devices overnight; speak to a local bike shop for expert advice instead of converting a bike yourself; check the battery and charger meet UK safety standards; inspect the battery for damage and stop using it if damaged; let the battery cool before charging and unplug once finished; ensure working smoke alarms on every level; keep internal doors closed at night; and in a fire, get out, stay out and call 999.
Signs a lithium-ion battery may be failing include swelling or bulging, hissing or cracking sounds, a strong or unusual smell, stopping or slow charging, or smoke or gas. If any of these signs are noticed, stop using the device immediately.
For fire safety advice, or if you do not have working smoke alarms, call Fire Service Direct on 0800 731 5958. More information is available on Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's social media accounts or at merseyfire.gov.uk.
