Children playing with fire in Liverpool inadvertently destroyed a memorial dedicated to nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who tragically lost her life when a gunman shot her in her home in Dovecot, Liverpool. The young girl was caught in the crossfire on August 22, 2022, as Thomas Cashman aimed for another individual in the house. The bullet went through Olivia’s mother’s hand before tragically striking Olivia. Despite efforts at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Olivia did not survive, leaving her family and community devastated.
In memory of Olivia, her family established a memorial near their residence in Dovecot, where her mother planted a tree in Olivia’s honour in 2023. This peaceful tribute stood for nearly two years until a group of children playing with fire caused damage to the memorial. The children accidentally set fire to equipment belonging to HA Civils, a local civil engineering and infrastructure company, that had plans to enhance the area for the benefit of local children.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that vandals ignited a significant fire that damaged a large number of plastic roadwork barriers near Olivia’s memorial site. The flames were extinguished on Thursday, April 17, around 5.04 pm. Olivia’s Butterfly Foundation, the charity founded in her memory, expressed deep disappointment at the incident and called on parents to educate their children about the dangers of playing with fire to prevent such destructive outcomes.
The charity was collaborating with HA Civils to develop the land near Olivia’s memorial for the local community’s benefit. They shared their sadness on social media, showing the melted remnants of the damaged equipment and expressing their setback in plans due to the fire incident. Despite the challenges faced, the charity remained determined to continue developing the space to create a better environment for the neighbourhood.
In a statement, the charity underscored the need to raise awareness among children about the risks associated with playing with fire, emphasizing the potentially devastating consequences. They acknowledged the financial loss suffered by HA Civils and the impact on their community initiative, while also thanking those who alerted them to the incident and expressing gratitude for the support received from local authorities and the community.
The inadvertent destruction of Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s memorial serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of teaching children about fire safety and responsible behaviour. The incident not only resulted in physical damage but also affected the emotional well-being of Olivia’s family and those involved in maintaining the memorial. It is crucial for communities to come together to prevent such incidents and safeguard cherished memorials dedicated to individuals who have left a lasting impact on their lives.
As the community reflects on this unfortunate event, the focus shifts towards rebuilding and reinforcing efforts to create safe and meaningful spaces that honour the memory of loved ones like Olivia Pratt-Korbel. Through education, awareness, and collective responsibility, it is possible to prevent similar incidents and ensure that memorials remain symbols of love, remembrance, and unity within communities.