Mum and her three young children died in house fire sparked by battery used in e-bikes and e-scooters

A MUM and her three young children died in a house fire sparked by a battery used in e-bikes and e-scooters, a probe has found.

Elisha Brabin, 36, Leo Brabin, 16, Ellis Brabin, eight, and seven-year-old Prudence Brabin died when a blaze tore through the family home.

It erupted at their house in Bootle, Merseyside, at 3.45am on September 22.

Fire crews arrived to find the property “well-alight” before they bravely entered to search for people inside.

Elisha and her kids were found in an upstairs bedroom by firefighters.

An injured man who was outside the house when fire crews arrived at the scene remains in hospital at this time, suffering from burn injuries.

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 said.

Thermal runaway occurs when the battery generates more heat than it can safely release, causing its temperature to rise rapidly and uncontrollably.

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

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.

“I would like to commend the efforts of our fire control staff and our fire crews, also working with NWAS colleagues, who made every effort to provide a different outcome, but sadly this was not the case due to the speed and intensity of the fire.

“This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we 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 deaths linked to the batteries.

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.”

In a tribute, the family said: “Our whole family is devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence.

“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.”

Floral tributes and cards have since been left outside the home by neighbours.

Neighbour Loti Nambobe is taking care of the family’s dog in the aftermath of the blaze.

Nambobe said he saw people trying to get into the home to rescue the family before fire crews arrived.

He added: “There were guys that tried to go in. People were doing everything, honestly. Like everyone here is a family and it’s broken everyone.”