Firefighters' Techniques for Extinguishing Electric Vehicle Fires

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【Summary】Firefighters face challenges when responding to electric vehicle (EV) fires due to the unique nature of EV batteries. Unlike petrol or diesel car fires, EV battery fires burn slower and can take around three to five hours to manage. Firefighters need to establish water early, use breathing apparatus, and may require more operators and water.

FutureCar Staff Oct 04, 2023 9:26 AM PT

Firefighters' Techniques for Extinguishing Electric Vehicle Fires

Recent news headlines have been dominated by reports of electric vehicle (EV) fires. From a detached EV battery catching fire at Sydney Airport to a Tesla lithium big-battery fire at the Bouldercombe energy park in Queensland, these incidents have raised questions about how firefighters respond to such emergencies.

According to firefighter Emma Sutcliffe from EV Fire Safe, tackling an EV battery fire is not a simple task and requires a specialized approach. Unlike extinguishing a fire in a petrol or diesel car, which can be done relatively quickly due to the familiarity with the materials involved, dealing with electric vehicles poses new challenges.

Sutcliffe, who was interviewed for Cosmos' podcast series 'Debunks,' highlights the time factor as a major issue. While firefighters can typically put out a conventional car fire in about 20 minutes, batteries in EVs can burn at a slower pace for a much longer duration. This is due to the large number of battery cells, often around 7000, and the domino effect that can occur during a fire.

When responding to an electric vehicle battery fire, Sutcliffe emphasizes the need to establish water early and ensure the availability of breathing apparatus and additional personnel. The incident management techniques for such fires are still being discussed globally, with some places utilizing skip bins filled with water to submerge the burning vehicle.

However, Sutcliffe acknowledges that fire agencies worldwide are yet to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for managing electric vehicle fires. She is currently involved in training other firefighters on how to handle these incidents until comprehensive SOPs are established. Despite concerns among firefighters about the lack of training, Sutcliffe reassures that information is available and the necessary protocols will be developed in due course.

Amidst the flurry of news reports, it is worth considering how frequently electric vehicle batteries actually catch fire and whether they are more prone to fires than petrol or diesel cars. To delve deeper into these questions, tune in to the 'Debunks' podcast.