A house fire that killed 36-year-old Elisha Brabin and three of her children in Bootle was caused by a lithium-ion battery, investigators have confirmed.

The fire broke out in the early hours of 22 September at a semi-detached property on Stone Square in Merseyside. Ms Brabin died alongside her 16-year-old son Leo, eight-year-old son Ellis, and seven-year-old daughter Prudence after the blaze spread rapidly through the home.

Emergency services attended the incident during the night, with six fire engines at the scene at the height of the blaze at 03:45 BST. A man was also taken to hospital suffering from burns.

Following an investigation carried out jointly with Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the blaze was sparked by an electrical event linked to a lithium-ion battery.

Kev Johnson, representing the fire service, confirmed the findings: "This tragedy highlights the very real risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which we confirmed as the source of the fire."

Mr Johnson offered condolences to those affected and commended the response teams on duty. "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," he said, praising staff and NWAS colleagues "who made every effort to provide a different outcome".

What we do not know yet is what device the battery was powering. The fire service noted that such batteries are commonly found in e-bikes and e-scooters, but officials have not confirmed what this specific battery was being used for.

The incident reflects a growing concern for regional emergency services. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service recorded 150 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries on Merseyside between April 2023 and August 2026, with five fatalities linked to the batteries during that period.

Following the inquiry, the fire service issued direct guidance to the public regarding the safe handling of battery-powered equipment.

"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," Mr Johnson said.

He added that people should remain alert to early warning signs: "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."

I will be following this one and will bring you further updates as the authorities conclude their wider inquiries.