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Lithium-ion battery caused fire that killed mum and 3 children - Published A house fire that killed a mother and her three children was caused by a lithium-ion battery. Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children, Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prudence, seven, died after a blaze "spread rapidly" inside a house on Stone Square in Bootle, Merseyside, in the early hours of 22 September. Following an investigation with Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) said the fire was caused by an electrical event linked to a lithium-ion battery, which are used in e-bikes and e-scooters. Kev Johnson, of MFRS, said: "This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we confirmed as the source of the fire." Six fire engines were at the scene at the height of the blaze at the semi-detached property, at 03:45 BST. MFRS said four people "showing no signs of life" had been found in an upstairs bedroom. A man was taken to hospital suffering from burns. "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," Johnson said. He commended the efforts of staff and NWAS colleagues "who made every effort to provide a different outcome". "Sadly this was not the case due to the speed and intensity of the fire," he said. E-bike warning MFRS has not confirmed what the battery was being used for, but they are often found in e-bikes and e-scooters. The fire service said there had been 150 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries on Merseyside between April 2023 and August 2026, and five fatalities linked to the batteries. 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." Paying tribute, Ms Brabin's relatives said she was a "devoted and loving mother who lived for her children". They said the family had been left "heartbroken" and their "unimaginable" loss would be "felt forever". They also said "our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure" and they were "devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence". "They have all been taken from us far too soon," they added. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, external, X, external, and Instagram, external. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Get in touch Tell us which stories we should cover on Merseyside Related topics - Published5 days ago - Published5 days ago - Published6 days ago
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