Lithium-Ion Battery Caused Bootle House Fire That Killed Mother and Three Children A lithium-ion battery caused the Bootle house fire that killed Elisha Brabin and her three children, an investigation by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has found. An investigation by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has found that a lithium-ion battery caused the house fire in Bootle, Merseyside, which killed a mother and three children in the early hours of Tuesday, September 22. Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children Leo Brabin, 16, Ellis Brabin, eight, and seven-year-old Prudence Brabin died in the blaze at their home on Stone Square. Cause of the Bootle FireThe fire was started by an electrical event which caused a lithium-ion battery to go into thermal runaway. Thermal runaway occurs when the battery generates more heat than it can safely release, causing its temperature to rise rapidly and uncontrollably.The findings were released today following the blaze. Firefighters were called to the home at about 3.45am and found Ms Brabin and her children in an upstairs bedroom. A fifth casualty was taken to hospital suffering from burns.The fire service has not confirmed what the battery was being used for, but such batteries are often found in e-bikes and e-scooters. Kev Johnson, head of prevention at MFRS, said the incident was devastating and that thoughts were with the family and friends of the mother and children who lost their lives and those who were injured.Lithium-Ion Battery Fire RisksJohnson commended the efforts of fire control staff, fire crews and North West Ambulance Service colleagues, who made every effort to provide a different outcome. He said this was not possible due to the speed and intensity of the fire.He said the tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which were confirmed as the source of the fire. The service said there had been 150 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries in Merseyside between April 2023 and August 2026, and five fatalities linked to the batteries.Johnson urged people to follow the manufacturer's instructions, only using batteries and chargers supplied with the vehicle or approved by the manufacturer, as anything else can pose a huge fire risk. He also said it was important to recognise signs that a lithium-ion battery may be failing, including swelling, unusual sounds, a strong smell, failure to charge or smoking, and to stop using it immediately.Family Tributes and Community SupportFollowing their deaths, the family of Ms Brabin said they were loved beyond measure and that relatives were devastated. They described Elisha as a beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, auntie, niece and cousin, and a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children.The family said Leo, Ellis and Prudence were loved beyond measure and brought joy, happiness and love, filling their lives with laughter and precious memories. They said the loss of Elisha and the three children had left them heartbroken and that the impact would be felt forever.A GoFundMe page set up for the family has raised more than £12,000. Neighbour Loti Nambombe, who set up the fundraiser, said everybody wanted to do something to help, describing it as their duty as neighbours and as a community.He said funds could go towards funeral costs or anything else the family needed. Nambombe, who has been looking after the family's dog since the fire, said residents came out into the street after hearing screaming when the blaze broke out.He said some of the people there were real heroes, trying to run in, get ladders or smash windows to get people out, and that people nearly risked their own lives to try to help.Flowers were left at the scene in tribute to the family. A number of soft toys, including Minecraft and Star Wars characters, were laid on the pavement next to a police cordon, along with candles, pink and blue star-shaped balloons and photo frames showing images of the family.One card had the message: God bless you all. Heartbroken to hear about the devastating fire. Another said: Sleep tight. Forever in our hearts.