Electric Vehicle fires are putting lives, livelihoods and the environment at risk - can you help?

Andy Pincher

Watch Commander West Midlands Fire Service

The Problem

When Electric Vehicles are involved in a collision, their Lithium-Ion batteries can be damaged and enter “thermal runaway”, and / or produce flammable and poisonous vapour clouds, 1,000°C jet-like flames and the risk of explosion.

Cordons, Closures and Contamination

Our current model is to cordon off battery fires. We use tons of water to cool the vehicle until it’s safe to move. This can result in lengthy road closures and huge traffic disruption, cost and environmental contamination. Here is more information about how we currently deal with EV fires.

Solutions and Sharing

We’d love your help in finding the best solutions. Whether they help us contain or extinguish fires, reopen roads faster or reduce environmental damage. We recognise that answers might come from people with very different experience from firefighters so please share this challenge with anyone who you think may take us closer to solutions. If you haven’t already, please become an Amitypather to help us spread the challenge to maximise our chances of success.

And if you think you have a solution and would like to discuss it, join the discussion in our forum on WhatsApp – we’ll share the link once you’re aboard as an Amitypather.

Thank you!

Andy Pincher

Watch Commander

WMFS Response Team. Li-Ion Battery Lead

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