A 13-year-old girl tragically died after a fire engulfed her bunk bed while she was asleep in her Prescot home on the night of April 2 last year. Layla Allen, a Year 8 pupil at St Edmund Arrowsmith School in Whiston, was found in her bedroom at the family house on Kingsway when fire crews arrived around 11:40pm.
Firefighters Heartbreaking Find
Firefighters discovered Layla lying on the top bunk, but her injuries were “not compatible with life,” and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Layla’s parents, Shaun Allen and Michelle McGurry, along with her five siblings, were outside when crews arrived. Merseyside Police confirmed no third-party involvement in the blaze.
Investigation Reveals Possible Cause
Merseyside Fire and Rescue investigation led by Ruth Baller-Wilson suggested the fire started on the top bunk bed bedding, spreading to the mattress, likely fuelled by an open window near the bed. The cause was undetermined but “more likely than not” related to a naked flame such as a lighter. Two disposable lighters, reportedly not belonging to the parents, were found at the house.
Earlier Fire And Risk Assessments
The tragedy followed a previous fire at the same home six months earlier, caused by a family member with a lighter, damaging a mattress and surrounding area. Fire services conducted safety assessments in November but offers to refer the family to fire education programs were declined by Layla’s mother.
Inquest Highlights Unanswered Questions
“I don’t feel I have sufficient evidence to make findings of fact to reach any conclusion other than an open conclusion,” said Coroner Anita Bhardwaj. “We don’t know what actually happened. We don’t know who started the actual fire.”
The coroner expressed concern about the repeated fires and urged the family to engage with social services and fire safety education to prevent future tragedies.
