- A fire in Bootle, Merseyside, on 22 September resulted in the deaths of 36-year-old Elisha Brabin and her three children, Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prudence, seven, whose bodies were discovered in an upstairs bedroom.
- An investigation by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service revealed the blaze was caused by an electrical event that triggered thermal runaway in a lithium-ion battery, producing rapid and uncontrollable heat.
- A fifth person outside the home was taken to hospital with burn injuries, while emergency crews commended the efforts of responders who fought the intense and fast-moving fire.
- Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service highlighted that between April 2023 and August 2026, there were 150 fires and five deaths linked to lithium-ion batteries across the region.
- Safety officials have advised the public to only use manufacturer-approved chargers and batteries, urging immediate cessation of use if batteries show signs of swelling, smoking, or unusual sounds.
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