Lithium Ion Battery Technology Currently Outpacing Our Ability To Deal With Emergency Risks They May Pose

As more and more lithium ion batteries are being used to power devices and vehicles, local fire departments are faced with new challenges on how to deal with the items
if they start fire.

Devices with the batteries can be as small as a watch or e-cigarette up to a full size pick-up truck, with full size specialty trucks in the works with getting the batteries.

City of Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue Division Chief Jason Roberts says that technology is outpacing our ability to deal with the devices if and when there is a problem.

Roberts says when it comes to electric vehicles, there really is no good way to extinguish them once they get going, but ongoing training is bringing the department to a point
to best deal with the fire hazards.

The biggest issue is placement of the batteries which are buried on the undersides of the vehicles.

The batteries are made up of many cells, and if one or two are on fire, it isn’t as big of a challenge to put out, but if the fire spreads to multiple cells, it becomes nearly impossible to put out, and the fire can burn for days. Roberts says some departments are using a fire suppressing type blanket to smother the flames long enough to tow the vehicle to a predetermined site where the vehicle can burn itself out, with some departments actually having a container the vehicle can be placed in to keep bystanders safe from the flames.

Electric vehicle crashes can pose their own set of problems because even though there is no fire at the moment, a damaged battery can start fire at a later time.

Because this is such a new problem, and not a very frequent one, local tow companies such a Whaelon Towing of Fond du Lac are still in the process of getting a
plan of action should the situation arise.

Whaelon Towing owner Dave Whealon says legislation is in the works to have electric vehicles have a specified marking like a different license plate or sticker to let emergency crews know it’s an electric vehicle.

Like the fire department, the situation is too new to have a plan of action in place, but also like the fire department, it is something they are working on.

While Tesla fires are no more frequent then combustion engine vehicle fires, fighting them is extremely different. Recently a Tesla in Pennsylvania started on fire
after hitting a piece of debris on the highway. The car burned for hours and crews dumped over 12,000 gallons of water on the fire. In comparison, a gas powered vehicle
can generally be extinguished with about 700 gallons of water.

Luckily, smaller components with the batteries aren’t as troublesome and fires are easier to avoid with a little preventative care.

Division Chief Roberts says the most important thing is to use the correct charger that came with the device, or get a comparable charger if you need to replace it. Also, don’t overcharge the device. Doing so could cause the batteries to heat excessively causing a fire.

To avoid potentially starting your house on fire, it’s recommended you don’t charge items in your house while sleeping or while you are away from home.

Be mindful of the ambient temperature you are charging devices in. Temperatures below 32 and above 105 can increase the chances of batteries starting on fire.

Many people continue to use cell phones after they have been dropped without thinking anything of it, but damaged batteries can start on fire well after being damaged.

Roberts says if you have a device overheating or catch on fire, do your best to isolate the device from other combustibles and try to get the device
outside of a building.

When it comes time to dispose of a lithium ion battery or a device that is powered by them, do not place them in the trash. Many refuse collecting services use a form of compacting when collecting trash which can damage a battery causing a fire which will spread to other combustible materials in the trash.

The best bet is to recycle the device. Stores like Batteries Plus in Fond du Lac will take your devices for recycle.