Electric Vehicle Fires Expose Firefighters to Elevated Risks
Electric vehicle (EV) fires present unique challenges and dangers to firefighters. These fires can expose first responders to harmful carcinogens and require far more water to extinguish than fires in gasoline-powered vehicles. Proper decontamination procedures are crucial to minimize exposure after battling an EV fire.
Firefighters are encountering new hazards with the rise of EVs. EV batteries contain a variety of chemicals. During an EV fire the batteries break down and release toxic compounds, including gases, aerosols and particulate matter. Those chemicals may include lithium salts and other materials. The fire then releases many types of toxic airborn chemicals. This presents a significant health risk to those exposed.
“If all the fires are, essentially, battery fires, EV fires will generate battery fire, and the battery fire will generate different chemicals, different byproducts,” said Mark P. Jones, a fire investigator with the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). “The chemical composition is different due to the battery makeup that allows the car to run, the high voltage systems, and charging and power management systems.”
EV fires also release contaminants into the air. Jones explains that thermal runaway, a chain reaction of the battery overheating, is a primary concern in EVs. The temperatures can be extremely high in EV fires, making the fire harder to extinguish.
Studies have shown that firefighters face potential exposure to many dangerous chemicals during an EV fire. This list could include hydrofluoric acid, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen fluoride, which can cause serious health problems.
Fire departments are taking steps to address the risks associated with EV fires. Departments are training firefighters on novel suppression tactics. They are learning about the increased water requirements to cool the batteries enough to extinguish the fire. Additionally, training on how to handle the hazardous materials is extremely vital to the safety of the firefighters.
More advanced techniques, such as submersion of the EV in a water pool or the use of special fire blankets, are being adopted. Firefighters can also use high-powered tools to separate the EV’s battery pack to extinguish the fire.
“There’s a commitment at the [Department of Fire and Emergency Services] that we have the right equipment and a safe system,” said Chris Baker, the executive manager and operational and readiness branch of the urx. “We need to work with fire and rescue, and EMS services, and share that knowledge, so there’s a unified strategy to make sure we are all safe and have the right capabilities.”
Firefighters understand that quick action and proper protocols are paramount. By following decontamination procedures, they can reduce exposure after extinguishing EV fires.
To protect themselves and the public, firefighters must know how to effectively manage the hazards associated with EV fires.
