In the early hours of September 10, 2024, a devastating fire broke out in a family home on Bedale Drive, Leicester, claiming the life of six-year-old Chamiah Brindley—known to her loved ones as Miah. The tragedy, which unfolded on the third floor of the house, has since gripped the local community and raised urgent questions about household safety, the dangers of lithium-ion batteries, and the increasing prevalence of vaping devices among young people.
According to BBC News, the fire was started by a vape pen left charging in the attic room that Miah shared with an older sibling. The inquest, held at Leicester Town Hall, revealed that the lithium-ion battery in the device caught fire, igniting a chain of events that would end in heartbreak. Tracey Moore, Miah’s mother, recounted being jolted from sleep by one of her daughters shouting about the fire shortly after 4:00 AM BST. The house, packed with three adults and ten children that night, quickly descended into chaos as flames and thick smoke engulfed the upper floor.
Ms. Moore described the frantic moments that followed. She ensured the rest of the family had escaped, then rushed upstairs with her partner and one of her sons after realizing Miah was missing. But the door to the attic conversion, described by the area coroner Ivan Cartwright as "unusually stiff," stood in their way. When they finally managed to break it down, fierce smoke and flames—so intense they singed Ms. Moore’s hair—prevented them from reaching her daughter. “I heard my daughter screaming for help,” Ms. Moore told the inquest, her words echoing the horror of that night.
Firefighters arrived swiftly and managed to reach Miah’s room, but the child could not be saved. She was pronounced dead less than 20 minutes after the fire began. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that she had died from "inhalation of the products of combustion," a harrowing reminder of how quickly smoke and toxic fumes can overcome even the youngest and healthiest of individuals.
The inquest also heard that several safety measures in the home had been compromised. Hard-wired smoke alarms, which could have provided crucial early warning, had been removed months before the fire. In addition, a number of skylights in the attic room had been nailed shut, a measure intended to prevent children from climbing onto the roof. Tragically, these sealed exits may have further limited Miah’s chances of escape or rescue.
Fire officer Dean Thornton, testifying at the inquest, provided further details about the cause of the blaze. He reported that eight vapes were found in the room, and that a rechargeable device and its charger lying next to the head of a double bed were identified as the seat of the fire. “I could not be exactly sure of the reason the rechargeable device set alight,” Mr. Thornton admitted, underlining the unpredictable dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries—especially when left charging unattended.
The use and storage of vape pens, particularly those powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, has become a growing concern for fire safety authorities in recent years. While such devices are marketed as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes, they carry their own set of risks. Poor-quality batteries, overcharging, and the use of incompatible chargers can all lead to catastrophic failures, as illustrated so tragically in this case.
Leicestershire Police conducted a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire. A 14-year-old girl was arrested in connection with the incident, though the force later confirmed she would face no further action. The investigation also sought to trace the origin of the vape pen that started the fire, but officers were unable to determine where it had come from—a detail that highlights the challenges authorities face in tracking the sale and distribution of vaping products, particularly those that may not meet safety standards.
The inquest, scheduled to conclude on October 7, 2025, has prompted renewed calls for vigilance around the use of electronic devices in the home. Fire services and safety campaigners have long warned about the dangers of charging devices overnight or leaving them unattended, especially on beds or soft furnishings where heat can quickly build up. The tragedy on Bedale Drive serves as a sobering example of how a moment’s inattention—or a faulty product—can have irreversible consequences.
Beyond the technical details, the human cost of the fire is impossible to ignore. Miah’s family, friends, and the wider Leicester community have been left reeling. Flowers and tributes have been laid outside the family’s home, and messages of support have flooded in from across the region. For those closest to Miah, however, the loss is deeply personal and enduring.
The case also shines a light on broader issues of housing safety and overcrowding. With thirteen people living under one roof, the risks associated with fire are amplified. The removal of smoke alarms—a decision whose reasoning was not detailed at the inquest—proved especially costly. Fire safety experts stress that functional alarms are a critical first line of defense, providing precious seconds for escape in the event of a blaze.
In the aftermath, local authorities and fire services are urging families to check their smoke alarms, avoid charging devices overnight, and ensure that escape routes are kept clear and accessible. As the inquest draws to a close, the hope is that Miah’s story will serve as a catalyst for greater awareness and action, preventing similar tragedies in the future.
For now, Leicester mourns the loss of a young life, cut short by a confluence of modern risks and preventable oversights. The memory of Chamiah Brindley will linger in the hearts of those who knew her, and her story stands as a stark warning: the smallest lapses in safety can have the gravest consequences.
