A tragic incident unfolded as a 13-year-old girl lost her life due to a destructive fire that engulfed her bunk bed while she was asleep.
The victim, Layla Allen, a student in Year 8 at St Edmund Arrowsmith School, perished in a fire that erupted at her residence in Prescot on April 2, the previous year.
Emergency responders were alerted to the family home on Kingsway, Prescot, around 11:40 pm. Layla’s parents, Shaun Allen and Michelle McGurry, and her five siblings were found outside the house, but Layla was still trapped inside.
Firefighters managed to enter the house and discovered Layla on the top bunk bed in her bedroom on the first floor. Sadly, her condition was deemed fatal, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the inquest, coroner Anita Bhardwaj highlighted the challenges in obtaining statements from all individuals present due to the reluctance of the family to expose the children to further trauma. The police investigation did not find any external involvement in the incident.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service investigation officer Ruth Baller-Wilson indicated that the fire likely originated on the bunk bed, with the burn pattern pointing to an ignition on the top bunk that spread to the bedding and mattress, aided by oxygen from a nearby open window.
The investigation could not conclusively determine the fire’s exact cause but suggested the involvement of a live flame, possibly from a lighter, as two disposable lighters, not belonging to Layla’s parents, were discovered on the premises.
Post-mortem findings revealed carbon monoxide levels in Layla’s lungs, confirming the fire’s impact as the cause of her death.
This tragic incident came shortly after a previous fire at the family home, also suspected to be ignited by a family member using a lighter. The subsequent investigation and safety assessments were declined by the family, despite offers of assistance from the fire services.
An open conclusion was reached, indicating the uncertainty surrounding the fire’s origin and underscoring the importance of fire safety education and support for the family, especially in light of the repeated incidents involving lighters and the devastating outcome for Layla.