Fire departments across the United States face a unique challenge with the growing prevalence of electric vehicles (EVs). EV fires, unlike traditional gas-powered vehicle fires, are more difficult to extinguish, last longer, and have a higher tendency to reignite. These distinct characteristics necessitate a deep understanding and the development of specific strategies to ensure public safety.
The complexity of EV fires lies in the use of lithium-ion batteries, known for their high energy density. Poorly designed or damaged, these batteries can undergo “thermal runaway,” leading to the release of flammable chemicals that can cause unexpected reignition. EV fires also emit toxic fumes, posing risks to both firefighters and bystanders, and necessitating careful handling.
In response to the challenges posed by EV fires, some fire departments are reconsidering their approaches. For example, firefighters in Franklin, Tennessee, used an enormous 45,000 gallons of water to extinguish an EV fire, compared to the standard 500 to 1,000 gallons for a gasoline-powered vehicle fire. This has led to a potential strategy of letting future EV fires burn out naturally.
We have a continent full of rolling incendiary devices…
… if your memory serves you well.
https://youtu.be/U-sdVxv8NPk?si=nFhgCDd9wQ0d1lzY
Exactly. Welcome to Afghanistan.
Absent zealous elected Jacobins, the insurance industry will take care of the problem.
Absent zealous elected Jacobins, the free market would have already crushed the EV industry.
Ford did once already, but like most “progressive” ideas it keeps coming back to life
Had a contractors drill battery catch fire at my place. Luckily they tossed it outside. A fire extinguisher did nothing to stop it.
Putting those things in vibration and collision-prone vehicles is the height of folly.
What DOES the Insurance Industry have to say about storing EV’s in garages?
I’m pretty sure the insurance industry quote was “We can’t come across as anti-green, so we will quietly continue to do as we’ve been doing for generations: we’ll just stick it up the arses of our regular customers.”
Same as the car manufacturers, really.
Here’s a nice video of a sparky bus in Paris:
https://www.brighteon.com/5c62d334-edaf-42f4-9bf2-88fed2e3dae1
Fun to watch, from a safe distance.
No fire can be extinguished until the woke cookies have been eaten and the commie boxes checked. Only net-zero pump trucks will fix this. And all female born team-rainbow firefighters. Yeah, and the more disabled the better. You can keep the red paint though. That works well. Add a few yellow stars to pretty it up too.
As a former resident of BC (I know, but you can’t change where you’re born any more than you can change your… . In my defence, I moved away) I went to visit family there last week.
Have to admit certain unease loading onto a BC Ferry next to a couple of Tesla’s. Glad it’s just once every year or two exposure and not a regular thing.
Don’t be silly. Steel doesn’t melt. Just ask (metallurgical expert) Rosie O’Donnell. That’s why Bush and ‘The Joos’ blew up the WTC. These firefighters don’t know what they’re talking about. The Joos burn the Teslas
Dennis you really are not very bright.
The big one.. Traffic jams or highway pileups.. Parking lots at huge events.. Do we even know the specifics on chain reaction ignition?.. Looks like we are going to find out the hard way..
Felicity Ace was finally extinguished when it sank…
Freemantle Highway was lucky enough to make it to port, but still lost one crew and injured more:
https://carbuzz.com/news/new-images-show-destruction-inside-fremantle-highway-car-carrier
The current thinking is put it in a dumpster, with 30,000 gallons of water, and leave it for a week somewhere away from other combustibles
This has led to a potential strategy of letting future EV fires burn out naturally.
Was on my local volunteer fire department for a number of years. Occasionally a hay- or straw stack would be struck by lightning. We never put them out. Soak the perimeter to minimize the chance of spreading & babysit it until it was ashes.
These things make the Pinto look good,
Salvage yards and towing companies are also beginning to refuse to accept them.
Toxic and unpredictable…..sounds safe to me.