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Schoolgirl dies in bedroom fire months after prior blaze
17 Jan
Summary
- Layla Allen, 13, died in a house fire in Prescot, Merseyside.
- An inquest could not determine the exact cause but noted potential lighter use.
- This fire occurred six months after a previous blaze at the same home.
Tragic Layla Allen, a 13-year-old pupil, lost her life when a ferocious fire engulfed her family home in Prescot, Merseyside, last April. Firefighters discovered her unresponsive on her top bunk bed, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. An inquest into her death could not establish a definitive cause, but investigators suggest a lighter was the most probable ignition source, noting two disposable lighters were found in the property. The investigation ruled out third-party involvement.
This devastating event followed another fire at the same address approximately six months prior. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service had attended that earlier incident, which was also believed to have been caused by a lighter. Following the initial fire, fire services offered the family a safety education program for children, which was declined.
