Investigators told an inquest that 13-year-old Layla Allen likely died after a fire began on the top bunk of her bed in Prescot on April 2, 2025, and that a lighter is suspected to have ignited the bedding. Burn patterns and witness evidence suggested Layla made no attempt to escape, and firefighters extinguished the blaze by about 12:30 a.m. An earlier, lighter-related bed fire in the same house six months earlier prompted an offer of SAFE support, which was declined. The coroner returned an open verdict, citing insufficient evidence and limited cooperation from the family.
13-Year-Old Layla Allen Likely Killed After Bunk-Bed Blaze; Lighter Suspected — Coroner Returns Open Verdict
Merseyside PoliceLayla Allen
New details have emerged from the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Layla Allen, who died after a bedroom fire at her family home in Kingsway, Prescot, Merseyside, on April 2, 2025.
Investigators Point To Bedding Ignition On Top Bunk
At the hearing, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service investigator Ruth Baller-Wilson told jurors that burn patterns indicate the fire began on the top bunk and developed within the bedding before spreading to the mattress. The flames were reportedly fuelled by oxygen from an open window near the bed. Firefighters extinguished the blaze by about 12:30 a.m., but Layla was tragically found deceased; her parents and five siblings survived.
Lighter Suspected; Circumstances Unclear
Investigators said evidence at the scene suggested a lighter was likely used to ignite the bedding. Baller-Wilson told the inquest that Layla made no attempt to escape the fire, adding that "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." She concluded it was likely Layla was asleep when the fire started.
Merseyside PoliceLayla Allen.
"It’s difficult to determine the exact sequence of events; however, the burn pattern suggests this fire ignited on the bunk bed." — Ruth Baller-Wilson, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
Previous House Fire and Declined Safety Support
Coroner Anita Bhardwaj and investigators highlighted a separate incident roughly six months earlier when another member of the household set fire to a different bed, which was also believed to have been ignited with a lighter and caused considerable damage to the front of the house. Fire officials offered to refer the family to SAFE (Safety Advice and Fire Education) after that earlier incident, but the referral was reportedly declined by Layla’s mother and the matter was treated at the time as a child playing with a lighter.
Investigation Hampered; Inquest Outcome
Police told the inquest that their ability to gather evidence was limited because Layla’s parents refused permission for other children in the home to be interviewed. Coroner Anita Bhardwaj concluded the hearing with an open verdict, saying there was insufficient evidence to determine who started the fire. "There are too many unanswered questions here. We don't know what actually happened," she said, and urged the family to accept fire-safety guidance and support.
Authorities have appealed for information that might clarify how the blaze started. Social services involvement was welcomed by the coroner, who said the recurrence of lighter-related fires in the household was a serious concern.
Key facts: the fire occurred on April 2, 2025, at about 11:42 p.m.; burn patterns point to a bedding ignition on the top bunk; a lighter is suspected; the inquest returned an open verdict; investigators continue to seek information.
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