E-Scooter Battery Blaze Kills Mother, Three Children
Fire officials confirm charging lithium-ion battery ignited fatal blaze in Merseyside home.
A fire that claimed the lives of a mother and her three children was ignited by a charging e-scooter battery, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) confirmed. The blaze occurred at a home in Bootle, Merseyside.
Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and seven-year-old Prudence died in the incident. Firefighters were called to the home on Stone Square around 3:45 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22, and found the family in an upstairs bedroom. A fifth person sustained burns and was taken to the hospital.
An investigation determined that an electrical event caused a lithium-ion battery to enter thermal runaway, a process where the battery rapidly and uncontrollably increases in temperature. MFRS confirmed the battery belonged to an e-scooter and was charging at the time of the fire.
Kev Johnson, head of prevention at MFRS, stated that the tragedy highlights the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. He urged the public to follow manufacturer instructions for charging and use only approved batteries and chargers.
"This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we confirmed as the source of the fire," 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."
Merseyside has recorded 150 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries between April 2023 and August 2026, resulting in five fatalities. The service also provided guidance on recognizing signs of a failing lithium-ion battery, including swelling, unusual sounds, strong smells, charging issues, or smoke.
The family of Elisha Brabin released a statement calling them "loved beyond measure" and describing Elisha as a devoted mother. "Our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure and brought so much joy, happiness and love to our family," the statement read. A GoFundMe page established for the family has raised over £13,000.
Neighbors recounted hearing screams and attempting to help when the fire broke out, with some individuals described as heroes for their efforts to enter the burning home. Tributes, including flowers, toys, balloons, and photographs, were left at the scene.