Lithium Ion Battery Confirmed as Cause of Devastating Bootle House Fire That Killed Mum and Three Children

A lithium ion battery has been confirmed as the cause of the devastating house fire in Bootle which claimed the lives of a mother and three of her children.

Elisha Brabin, 36, died alongside her children Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prudence, seven, following the fire at their home in Stone Square in the early hours of Tuesday 22 September.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has now confirmed that an investigation carried out alongside Merseyside Police established that the blaze began following an electrical event which caused a lithium ion battery to enter what is known as thermal runaway.

Thermal runaway is an extremely dangerous process in which a battery begins generating heat faster than it can release it. Its temperature can then rise rapidly, potentially causing cells within the battery to fail one after another and release flammable gases, resulting in a fast developing and extremely intense fire.

The fire service has not confirmed what the battery involved in the Bootle fire was being used for.

Fire crews were alerted to the incident at 3.38am and arrived at Stone Square at 3.45am, where they found a semi detached property well alight.

Six fire engines attended at the height of the incident and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property to search for those inside and tackle the blaze.

Elisha and her three children were found in an upstairs bedroom and were sadly pronounced dead at the scene. A fifth person was taken to hospital suffering from burns.

The tragedy has prompted a renewed warning about the potential dangers associated with lithium ion batteries.

Figures released by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service show that 150 fires involving items containing lithium ion batteries were recorded across Merseyside between April 2023 and August 2026.

Of those fires, 67 occurred inside people’s homes. Thirty of the incidents in homes happened between 9pm and 8am.

The fire service says five people have died in Merseyside in fires linked to lithium ion batteries since April 2023.

Lithium ion batteries are found in a huge range of everyday products and are widely used in items including electric bikes, electric scooters, power tools, laptops and other rechargeable equipment. Most are safe when used correctly, but damaged, defective, poor quality or incompatible batteries and chargers can present a serious fire risk.

Government safety guidance explains that during thermal runaway, chemical reactions inside battery cells can generate heat faster than it can escape. This can lead to the release of flammable and potentially toxic gases and, in some circumstances, fire or explosion.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents to use only batteries and chargers supplied with a product or specifically approved by its manufacturer.

People are also being warned not to leave batteries charging while they are asleep or away from home and to avoid charging or storing electric bikes, scooters or their batteries where they could block an escape route.

There are several warning signs that a lithium ion battery could be failing.

These include a battery becoming swollen or changing shape, becoming excessively hot, making hissing or cracking sounds, producing an unusual or strong smell, taking considerably longer to charge, failing to charge properly or beginning to smoke.

Anyone who notices signs of a battery failing should stop using it immediately. If a battery or device begins smoking or a fire starts, residents should get out of the property, stay out and call 999.

Residents are also being urged to ensure they have working smoke alarms on every level of their home and to regularly check that they are operating correctly.

The family of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence previously described Elisha as a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children, saying the three children brought enormous happiness and love to their family.

Their deaths have left relatives, friends and the wider Bootle community devastated.

Fire crews are expected to be out in the local community providing fire safety advice and reassurance to residents following the tragedy.