Merseyside fire tragedy: Blaze that killed mum and three kids linked to battery used in e-bikes
The horror house fire killed a mother and her three children and took six fire trucks to bring under control.
A fatal housefire that killed a UK mother and her three young children has been traced back to a lithium ion battery, the kind normally used to power e-bikes and scooters.
On Monday, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service confirmed the cause of the September 22 blaze in Bootle which left 36-year-old Elisha Brabin and her children Leo, 16, Ellis, 8, and Prudence, 7.
The semi-detached home was found well alight when fire crews arrived at the scene in Stone Square at 3.45am.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The lifeless bodies of the mother and her three children were found in an upstairs bedroom.
The Sun reported that a man who arrived outside after fire crews remains in hospital with significant burns.
On Monday, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service described the cause of the fire as “an electrical event causing a lithium-ion battery to go into thermal runaway”.
Thermal runaway is described as “an uncontrollable, self-heating chain reaction where a rise in temperature triggers events that generate even more heat, rapidly accelerating the cycle”.
Authorities are yet to reveal what the faulty lithium ion battery was being used for, but their most common household uses include in e-bikes and electric scooters as well as some personal electronics such as laptops and smart phones.
“This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we confirmed as the source of the fire,” MFRS head of prevention Kevin 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.”
Brabin family members and relatives revealed their pain in a tribute issued on Wednesday.
“Our whole family is devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence,” the statement said.
“Elisha was our beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunty, niece and cousin. She was a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children. They were her whole world, and she meant everything to us.
“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.
“As we try to come to terms with this devastating tragedy, we kindly ask that our family’s privacy is respected whilst we grieve and support one another through this incredibly difficult time. We would like to thank everyone for their kindness, support and understanding.”
