A fire in Bootle that claimed the lives of a mother and her three children was caused by a lithium-ion battery, Merseyside firefighters have confirmed. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday 22 September, saw an electrical event cause the battery to enter “thermal runaway”.
The victims were identified by police as Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children Leo Brabin, 16, Ellis Brabin, eight, and Prudence Brabin, seven. Fire crews arrived at the house at approximately 3.45am, finding it alight. Four people were discovered in an upstairs bedroom with no signs of life, and their deaths were later confirmed by North West ambulance’s hazardous area response team.
Merseyside fire and rescue service (MFRS) stated that the tragedy “highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries”. The fire service did not specify what the battery was being used for, but noted that such batteries are commonly found in vapes, ebikes, and e-scooters.
MFRS head of prevention urged people to use only batteries and chargers supplied with or approved by the manufacturer. They also advised recognising signs of a failing battery, such as swelling, unusual sounds, a strong smell, failure to charge, or smoking, and to stop using it immediately if these signs appear.