A mother and her three children died in a house fire in Bootle, Merseyside, on Tuesday 22 September 2026, and the fire service has now confirmed the cause was a lithium-ion battery for an e-scooter.
Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children Leo, 16, Ellis, 8, and Prudence, 7, were found in an upstairs bedroom of their semi-detached home in Stone Square. Crews were called shortly before 3:45am and found the house already well alight, with fire spreading rapidly. A fifth person was taken to hospital with burns. Our thoughts are with their family, friends and the whole Bootle community.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) has confirmed the battery belonged to an e-scooter but was not fitted to the scooter at the time. It is believed the battery was on charge when the fire started, in the early hours, while the household slept.
As a serving firefighter with more than 26 years in the UK Fire Service, I want to be clear: this is not a freak accident. It is a pattern we are seeing again and again, and much of it is preventable. This article explains what happened, why these fires are so dangerous, and the practical steps every household, landlord and responsible person should take today.
What is thermal runaway?
MFRS said an electrical event caused the battery to go into thermal runaway. In plain terms, the battery starts producing heat faster than it can get rid of it, so its temperature climbs rapidly and out of control.
Once that starts, one damaged cell heats the cells next to it, which then fail too. The result is a chain reaction that can produce:
- Jets of flame, sometimes described by witnesses as "blowtorch-like"
- Loud bangs or small explosions as cells rupture
- Large volumes of toxic, flammable gas and thick black smoke
- Re-ignition, even after the flames appear to be out
This is why battery fires are so different from a typical house fire. There is often very little warning, the fire develops in seconds rather than minutes, and the smoke alone can make an escape route impassable. When it happens at night, on a charger in a hallway or bedroom, the people upstairs may have almost no time to get out.
A growing problem
Merseyside alone recorded 150 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries between April 2023 and August 2026, with five deaths, according to MFRS. That figure is from one county, before the Bootle fire, and the picture is similar right across the UK.
E-bikes and e-scooters are a big part of this. They carry large battery packs, they are often charged indoors overnight, and many are bought cheaply online, second-hand, or fitted with replacement batteries and chargers of unknown quality. Fire services nationally have been warning about this trend for several years, and every one of us on the front line has attended these incidents.
How to charge and store e-scooter and e-bike batteries safely
Most battery fires we attend start during charging. These steps cut the risk significantly:
- Never charge overnight or while you are out. Charge while you are awake and at home, and unplug as soon as it is full.
- Never charge or store on an escape route. Hallways, stairs and the space by the front door are the worst places, because a fire there traps everyone upstairs.
- Keep it out of bedrooms. If a battery fails while you sleep, you may not wake in time.
- Use the manufacturer's charger. Cheap or "universal" chargers may not have the right cut-off protection.
- Buy from reputable sellers. Avoid unbranded batteries, conversion kits and second-hand packs whose history you don't know.
- Charge on a hard, flat surface. Keep it away from soft furnishings, clothes, paper and anything that burns.
- Let it cool before charging. Give the battery time to cool down after a ride, and don't charge it in direct heat.
- Don't tamper with or repair batteries. Damaged packs should be replaced, not taped up or rebuilt.
- Fit and test smoke alarms. Have a working alarm on every level of the home, and one where you charge. Test them monthly.
- Close internal doors at night. A closed door can hold back fire and smoke long enough for you to escape.
If a battery does catch fire: get out, stay out and call 999. Do not try to put it out yourself, and do not go back in.
Warning signs your battery may be failing
MFRS has urged people to stop using a lithium-ion battery immediately if it shows any of these signs:
- Swelling, bulging or a split casing
- Unusual noises, such as hissing, popping or crackling
- A strong or unusual smell
- Failing to charge, or losing charge much faster than normal
- Smoking, or getting unusually hot
I would add one more: if the scooter or bike has had a heavy knock, been dropped, or been left out in the rain, get the battery checked. Internal damage is not always visible, and a damaged cell is exactly the kind of fault that can lead to thermal runaway.
A failing battery should be disposed of safely at a recycling centre that accepts batteries. Never put it in household waste, where it can cause fires in bin lorries and waste sites.
What this means for landlords, HMOs and responsible persons
If you manage flats, HMOs, student housing, hotels, offices or workplaces, e-scooter and e-bike batteries now need to be part of your fire risk assessment. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must identify fire hazards and reduce the risk from them. Lithium-ion batteries are a clear, foreseeable hazard.
Practical questions your fire risk assessment should answer:
- Where are residents or staff charging devices? Are they being charged in corridors, stairwells or communal areas?
- Are escape routes kept clear? Scooters and bikes left in hallways block exits and add fuel to a fire in the very place people need to escape through.
- Do you have a clear policy? Tenancy agreements, house rules or workplace policies should say where e-mobility devices can and cannot be stored and charged.
- Is detection suitable? Check that your alarm system covers areas where charging is likely to happen.
- Is there a safer alternative? A designated, well-ventilated storage or charging area away from escape routes can reduce the risk considerably.
- Have occupants been told? Share clear, simple safety guidance with tenants, guests and staff.
A fire risk assessment is a living document. If e-bikes and e-scooters have appeared in your building since it was last reviewed, it needs updating.
Extinguish the risk
The loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly a lithium-ion battery fire can turn deadly. The simplest changes, like never charging overnight and never charging on an escape route, could save a life in your home.
Please share this article with family, friends and neighbours, especially anyone with an e-scooter or e-bike in the house.
If you are a landlord, business owner or responsible person and want to be sure your premises are properly assessed for lithium-ion battery risks, Whale Fire can help. Our fire risk assessments are carried out with the practical insight of more than 26 years on the front line. Get in touch with Whale Fire to book your fire risk assessment today.
