Layla Allen, 13, died in a house fire while asleep in her bedroom at her family home in Prescot. Fire crews were called late at night after a blaze broke out upstairs. Layla was found on her bunk bed and was pronounced dead at the scene.
An inquest heard that the fire most likely started on the bunk bed. Investigators said the pattern of damage showed the bedding ignited first before the fire spread. The evidence suggested a live flame, such as a cigarette lighter, was the most likely cause.
Layla was described as a fit and healthy teenager. Investigators said there was no clear reason she would not have been able to escape if she had been awake. This led them to believe she was asleep when the fire began.
Police found no evidence that anyone outside the home was involved. Officers were unable to interview the other children in the house, as professionals agreed this could cause them serious emotional harm. As a result, some details surrounding the fire could not be fully explored.
Layla’s family described her as kind, funny, and full of life. Friends and neighbours left tributes near the home, remembering a bright young girl whose death has deeply affected her family and the wider community.
