GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road increases, fire departments across the country are preparing for a new type of emergency: EV fires.
Firefighters are finding that EV fires present unique challenges compared to those involving gasoline-powered cars. The Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue in Washington recently battled such a fire. “EV fires present unique challenges because they are not easily extinguished with water and produce highly toxic smoke. These batteries generate intense heat, store large amounts of energy, and contain their own oxidizers, allowing them to sustain combustion without oxygen. They even burn underwater,” the department reported on Facebook.
Another difficulty is the potential for reignition. “To make matters more difficult, EV fires can reignite hours, days, or even weeks later. Due to this risk, E87 followed the tow truck to the impound lot, as there have been instances where EVs have reignited while on flatbeds,” the department added.
In Grand Rapids, the fire department is preparing for the eventuality of EV fires. Captain Michael Witteveen stated that while the department has yet to face such a blaze, they are ready. “We have a nozzle that goes underneath the car to help spray underneath there and cool that battery pack,” he explained. “And then we have a blanket that goes over the top that helps to contain that fire, if it’s next to a building or other cars, that kind of thing, just to hopefully not affect anything else besides that car.”
The fire blanket is designed to contain the fire and also allow water to reach the battery. The Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue used a similar blanket in their recent response to an EV fire. Witteveen emphasized that routine vehicle maintenance can help prevent fires in all types of cars.
