The fatal incident came just six months after firefighters had been called to the family home to reports of another fire
16:23, 16 Jan 2026Updated 18:13, 16 Jan 2026
Layla Allen, 13, was killed a house fire on Kingsway in Prescot(Image: )
A 13-year-old girl died after a ferocious fire engulfed her bunk bed as she slept. Layla Allen, a Year 8 pupil at St Edmund Arrowsmith School in Whiston, was killed when the blaze broke out at her Prescot home on the night of April 2 last year.
Fire crews were called to the family home on Kingsway, Prescot, at around 11.40pm. They arrived to find Layla’s parents, Shaun Allen and Michelle McGurry, outside the property with her five siblings – but Layla was reported to be trapped inside.
Firefighters entered and found the 13-year-old lying on the top bunk of a bunk bed in her bedroom, located at the rear of the house on the first floor. Her condition was said to be “not compatible with life” and she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
At her inquest today, January 16, coroner Anita Bhardwaj said: “Police were unable to interview the other children present in the house, and what police have said in effect is that they had been prevented from gathering further evidence, and without statements from all parties present they cannot rule out anything.
“It’s correct to say that they couldn’t interview the other children because of the damage that it would cause to them. That the family have indicated that interviews would cause too much harm to the children and they would have to relive the incident. This was supported by the children’s social care, and this prevented evidence being gathered.”
However, Merseyside Police found no evidence to suggest any third party outside of the home had been involved.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service investigation officer Ruth Baller-Wilson, who led an investigation into the fire, said: “It’s difficult to determine the exact sequence of events, however the burn pattern suggests this fire ignited on the bunk bed.
“The fire ignited on the top bunk and developed within the bedding before it spread to the mattress, supported by the oxygen from an open window by the bed.”
Bouquets of flowers, cards and teddy bears left in memory of Layla(Image: Liverpool Echo)
She said an investigation had ruled out all potential sources “with the exception of a naked flame” such as a lighter. Two disposable lighters, which Layla’s parents said did not belong to them, had been found inside the property.
Ms Baller-Wilson went onto say Layla was most likely asleep at the time the fire broke out, as she was found lying on her back in bed. She said: “Layla was a fit, healthy 13-year-old; she wasn’t trapped and there was no reason why she wouldn’t have at least been able to get down from the bunk, even if it was on fire. Therefore I believe it’s more likely she was asleep at the time.”
She added: “If Layla did start the fire herself, there would be no reason why she wouldn’t escape the room. It’s possible that her clothes may have ignited, but I still would have expected her to get herself down from the bunk and attempt self-rescue.”
The investigation was not able to establish a definite cause of the fire, but found it was “more likely than not that it was a live flame, such as a lighter.”
A post-mortem examination found levels of carbon monoxide, caused by the fire, in Layla’s lungs. Her cause of death was found to be “effects of fire”.
The fatal incident came just six months after fire services had been called to family home to reports of another fire. Ms Baller-Wilson said: “Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service attended the address for a fire which was determined to have been started by a member of the family.
“That was in one of the bedrooms at the front of the house. It was believed to be [caused by] a lighter. From my colleagues’ investigation and report, that was the most likely source of ignition.
“It was in the bedroom at the front of the house and involved the mattress and bedding. There was a small amount of spread to the surrounding area. It did cause considerable damage and there was smoke to the front of the house.”
Disney characters and teddy bears were among tributes left in memory of the 13-year-old(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Following the incident, fire services visited the family on November 21 2024 to carry out a risk assessment. They returned for a further safety check on November 25, when they offered to refer the family to SAFE (Safety Advice and Fire Education), an educational program for children and young people up to the age of 18 who are playing with or starting fires.
However, Ms Baller-Wilson said “safe interventions were declined” by Ms McGarry. She added that an investigation had concluded the fire was “most likely” caused by one of the children “with a lighter”.
She said: “The cause of the first, initial fire was put down to a child playing with a lighter.”
Handing down an open conclusion, Ms Bhardwaj said: “No cause of fire was found within the area and so the direct cause cannot be absolutely determined. However there was no evidence of any third party involvement of anybody outside.
“The investigation found it more likely than not the fire was caused with a lighter by one of the children.
“It’s more likely than not that it was a lighter with a live flame. In all the circumstances… it is more likely than not that Layla’s death was direct result of the fire itself.
“There are a number of unanswered questions we have. Layla was a fit and health 13-year-old and would have had the capability and opportunity to escape, if she had been awake. This supports the conclusion that Layla was not awake at the time of the fire when it started, and therefore she didn’t start the fire.
“The fire most likely started in the top bunk and was ignited using a live flame.
“I don’t feel I have sufficient evidence to make findings of fact to reach any conclusion other than an open conclusion. There are too may unanswered questions here. We don’t know what actually happened. We don’t know who started the actual fire.”
Addressing Layla’s parents directly, Ms Bhardwaj said: “I’m concerned about the fact that there has been a second fire within such a short period of time, and I’m glad that social services are involved because there are clearly highlighted issues. I cannot be strong enough in my feelings that you need the input of the fire service, whether that’s to educate your children or yourselves.
“Social services appear to be very, very involved with yourselves and it’s not something I’m going to write to them about. But as parents you want to keep your children safe. If there’s any help that’s out there, that can assist you in educating them and yourselves, that needs to be considered.
“The fire service would be more than happy to engage with yourselves.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of you as a family, for the children, to have the input of the fire services to give you guidance and support in keeping the children safe.
“This is the second fire in similar circumstances within a very, very short period of time involving lighters and this time the sad consequence was Layla’s death.”