Lithium-ion battery caused Bootle house fire that killed mother and her three children

From the Newshound archive · first published 28 September 2026 · last updated 29 September 2026.

A "devoted and loving" mother and her three children died after a lithium-ion battery entered thermal runaway, igniting their semi-detached home in Bootle in the early hours of 22 September. Elisha Brabin, 36, Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prudence, seven, were all found without signs of life in an upstairs bedroom, while a fifth person was discovered outside and hospitalised with burns. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said the battery was the kind found in vapes, e-bikes or e-scooters.

The family released a statement describing the loss as "unimaginable" and saying the three children had been "taken from us far too soon."

Fire chiefs explained that thermal runaway occurs when heat accumulates inside a battery more quickly than it can escape, causing temperatures to rise rapidly and without control.

Fire chief Kevin Johnson urged people to watch for warning signs including swelling, unusual sounds, strong smells or failure to charge, and to stop using any battery that shows them.