Lithium-ion battery blamed for house fire that killed mother and three children
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service says a lithium-ion battery caused the house fire in Bootle that killed a mother and her three children last week.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) has confirmed that a house fire in Bootle, Merseyside, which claimed the lives of a mother and her three children, was caused by an electrical fault involving a lithium-ion battery — the type commonly found in e-bikes and e-scooters.
Elisha Brabin, 36, died alongside her children Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prudence, seven, after the fire broke out in the early hours of last Tuesday, at around 03:45 BST.
Blaze spread rapidly
The fire took hold quickly inside the semi-detached house on Stone Square, according to the fire service. Six fire engines attended the scene at the height of the incident. Four people showing no signs of life were later found in an upstairs bedroom.
Following a joint investigation with Merseyside Police, MFRS stated that the lithium-ion battery had been confirmed as the source of the fire. The service said the tragedy underlines the real dangers such batteries can pose.
The story is still developing, and further details are expected to be released in due course.
