Lithium-ion battery caused house fire that killed mother and three children in Merseyside

A house fire in Merseyside which killed a mother and three children was caused by a lithium-ion battery, the fire service has said.

Elisha Brabin, 36, Leo Brabin, 16, Ellis Brabin, eight, and seven-year-old Prudence Brabin died in the fire at their home in Bootle last Tuesday.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze found it was started by an electrical event which caused a lithium-ion battery to go into thermal runaway, a spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) said.

Thermal runaway occurs when the battery generates more heat than it can safely release. This causes its temperature to rise quickly and uncontrollably.

Ms Brabin and her children were found in an upstairs bedroom by firefighters who were called to the property in Stone Square at about 3.45am.

One person found outside the property was taken to hospital with burns.

Kev Johnson, head of prevention at MFRS, 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."

He added: "This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we confirmed as the source of the fire."

The fire service has not revealed what the battery was being used for. However, they are often found in e-bikes and e-scooters.

MFRS said five deaths and 150 fires had been linked to lithium-ion batteries in Merseyside between April 2023 and August 2026.

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."

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Ms Brabin's family said she was a "devoted and loving mother who lived for her children".

In a statement issued through police after the blaze, they added: "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.

"The tragic loss of Elisha and our three precious children has left us heartbroken. They have all been taken from us far too soon. The loss we are experiencing is unimaginable, and the impact on our family will be felt forever."

(c) Sky News 2026: Lithium-ion battery caused house fire that killed mother and three children in Merseyside