Overview
- Layla Allen was found on the top bunk after the April 2, 2024 house fire, and a post-mortem recorded the cause of death as effects of fire with carbon monoxide in her lungs.
- The fire service reported burn patterns showing ignition on the top bunk and said a live flame was the most likely source, with oxygen from an open window feeding the blaze.
- Two disposable lighters were found in the home, which the parents said were not theirs, and investigators could not establish a definitive cause.
- Merseyside Police reported no evidence of involvement by anyone outside the home, but officers did not interview other children in the house due to welfare concerns.
- The address saw a similar non-fatal fire about six months earlier linked to a lighter, a referral to the SAFE programme was declined, and the coroner urged the family to engage with fire-safety support as unanswered questions remain.