Federal regulators warn of risks to firefighters from electrical vehicle fires

Lithium-ion batteries pose a unique threat, and most first responders are not prepared.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/aut...ail%20Sailthru


It’s the kind of blaze that veteran Chief Palmer Buck of The Woodlands Township Fire Department in suburban Houston compared to “a trick birthday candle.”

On April 17, when firefighters responded to a 911 call at around 9:30 p.m., they came upon a Tesla Model S that had crashed, killing two people, and was now on fire.

They extinguished it, but then a small flare shot out of the bottom of the charred hulk. Firefighters quickly put out those flames. Not long after, the car reignited for a third time.

 

Yeah, there was a story a couple years ago about an EV in the impound yard after a collision that reignited.

 

This is really old news. The fire hazard from 600V batteries and the electrolyte in them has been talked about for over a decade. It's a good thing gasoline powered cars don't ever catch on fire...

Wait, I just realized that the link is from NBC News. Yeah, they've shown great responsibility in reporting about vehicle flammability. Can you say "Chevy pickup gas tanks"?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archi...-ada724bd34f4/

 

Even back in the day, Ford Pinto's exploded when rear impact occurred.

 

Tesla recommends that firefighters let the cars burn since they are so difficult to extinguish.

 

Isn't that a comforting thought if you had a crash and were pinned in. At least with a Hoverboard, you could bail off.

 

I've heard that many fire stations will now call a neighboring fire department from a large municipality with specialized equipment to fight those EV fires.

 

Like 10 million Fords recalled cruise control deactivation switch. Starting fires in garages as people were sleeping in the middle of night. Not sure if anyone died.

 

Difference here is that a gasoline fire can usually be snuffed out with plenty of water or foam. Take away heat and oxygen and fire of this type cannot sustain itself.

With batteries, you're dealing with metals plus a self sustaining chemical reaction. Both are among the nastiest fires to fight.

This is the kind of thing that people beating the drum loudest for EVs have not taken into consideration. Those that have would probably consider the risk to emergency personnel to be collateral damage. Ideology over everything, even people.



Stuff like this is why volunteer fire companies are having a hell of a time retaining and recruiting members. They have to have the same training and equipment as a paid department in addition to holding a job, and have to do it on their own time and dime. Those who do EMT and paramedic services have to do even more, all on a volunteer's salary.

There are 12 VFDs in my 900 square mile county, of which only 3 provide EMT/paramedic and transport services. I'm lucky one of those serves my area; even then it's 20 miles to nearest ER and over an hour to nearest Level One trauma center.

Yet volunteer fire/EMS budgets are always the first thing county governments cut, directing the money to other things that only benefit a limited constituency.

If you live somewhere served by a volunteer fire department, support them. Buy their Brunswick Stew, go to their steak and spaghetti suppers and carnivals, make a cash donation, provide them lunch. They're your line of defense saving your property and getting quick emergency medical care.

 

Environmentalism is a religion, not a science, to its followers. Facts are ignored in favor of beliefs. Expertise is ignored, I could say I studied power in school in a good amount of courses, and work for a car company, and some crazy barista chick with tattoos longer than my... well, LONG, and she'll think she is not only equal, but superior in expertise, whereas I'll listen to a nuke engineer talk all day about power procedures since they're fascinating to me.

 

Well said.

 

Yes. It will take time for engineers and FD to learn and equip. To put out EV fires. Environmentalism is a religion. I disagree strongly. Worked as the designer of fire sprinkler system for a construction company that had all of the work for U.S. Fish and Wildlife & U.S. Geological Survey buildings. Up and down the east coast. Part of my job was to field check my design for fabricated sprinkler pipe to fit.

Talking to the scientist and workmen there. All of them told me almost all of the steams and rivers are polluted. All fish have tumors, the worse was bottom fish. Runoff from roads, farms, sewage, industrial manufacturing. Micro plastic on the bottom of river beds.

Wildfires, Floods, historical droughts[dam at there lowest levels, some so low, will no longer be able produce electric] heatwave [Triple digits here in St George for most of June. 115 already! God know how bad it will get in July and August] Just ask anyone here on CO from the southwest!

Its been reported 32% of Americans, just can not believe facts! Believe nut jobs and batshit crazies conspiracy in the news. Just sad! I will stick with scientist and engineers.

 

I had one of those vehicles. It was an extremely simple fix that I did myself in the driveway, basically just bypassing the potentially faulty secondary (redundant) deactivation switch.

 

Fire Depts. had similar discussions when side airbags first came out. Specialized training for extrication and operating tools were needed. I agree, do not take your Volunteer Fire Dept's for granted, they may not be there when needed. If your able bodied, consider joining, it's a wonderful experience.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Safe Water Drinking Act provided regulations to minimize contaminants and toxins from entering potable water supplies.

Doublecheck backflow assemblies, and more specifically, reduced pressure principle backflow preventer assemblies were designed to prevent the pollution that you have described.

Is your description a matter of lack of enforcement?

 

(Doublecheck backflow assemblies, and more specifically, reduced pressure principle backflow preventer assemblies)Protect potable water(Drinking water)from fire sprinklers system and alike.
Not Runoff from roads(Oil, rubber, gas, at one time lead) farms(Manure and chemicals fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide) raw sewage for years- but better now-but still a problem when flooding, industrial manufacturing. Hundreds of stories of people illegal dumping. Garbage, household appliances, abandoned automobiles, construction and demolition debris, hazardous materials, and other waste.

 

What does this have to do with electric vehicles?

 

Answered twilightblue28A ?

 

I wonder how many EVs are needed to cancel out the carbon footprint from all that plastic burning!

 

I'm guessing that HighwayStar 442 began writing that it will take time for fire departments and engineers to develop agents to suppress fires in electrical cars.
I'm not sure how or why that digressed into environmental damage. That's something only he can answer. I responded to the regulations and laws enacted, and the equipment imposed by the authorities to prevent the environmental damage.
If you want to remove my post as being irrelevant, you may. I'm being sincere and not being smart or disrespectful.

 

Environmentalism is a religion, not a science, to its followers