Tackling Electric Car Fires in Thuringia: Fire Departments' Expert Approach
Prepared Fire Departments for Electrical Vehicle Blazes - Equipment for combating fires in electric vehicles
When it comes to electric cars catching fire, things can get tricky. But fear not, fire departments in Thuringia, Germany, are well-equipped to handle this Challenge. According to Karsten Utterodt, chair of the Thuringian Firefighters' Association, they've got the situation "under control."
The hitch with electric vehicles is their big batteries, typically lithium-ion accumulators. If these batteries ignite, they need constant cooling and the vehicle needs to be transported in a water bath. Larger fire departments have container systems for this purpose, explains Utterodt. Smaller departments make do with their own methods, like rolling the vehicle onto a tarp, folding it up, and then letting water run into the tarp.
Usually, disposal companies take care of the transport. The Thuringian Firefighters' Association keeps their colleagues up-to-date on handling these situations during training courses at the state fire academy and provides guidelines.
It's a bit tricky to track the frequency of such fires. Neither the state statistics office, the state or federal firefighters' association, nor the overall insurance association keeps records. The Thuringian Firefighters' Association hasn't noticed an increase in occurrence, as per Utterodt.
According to insurers' statistics, there's no evidence to suggest that electric cars pose a higher fire risk than conventional cars for the year 2023.
Lithium-ion accumulator fires in electric vehicles (EVs) bring unique problems. These batteries can undergo thermal runaway, leading to intense, hard-to-control fires with high heat and the release of hazardous gases. Standard extinguishing methods may not be effective, requiring special techniques like copious amounts of water to cool the battery cells and prevent further ignition. Firefighters are trained in Germany, including Thuringia, to handle such scenarios and use thermal imaging cameras to detect hot spots in the battery packs. Safety measures, such as isolating the accident site and avoiding exposure to toxic fumes, are also crucial.
In extreme cases, whole battery packs may be submerged in water or foam to extinguish and cool them, a process that requires specialized containment to manage environmental risks. Such incidents, though rare, like a significant fire in a battery container in Thuringia causing about EUR 700,000 worth of damage, serve as valuable learning experiences.
In a nutshell, firefighting in Thuringia for electric car fires with lithium-ion accumulators involves advanced cooling techniques, specialized training, and careful site management to handle the complexities of battery fires safely and effectively. This approach reflects growing awareness and adaptation by emergency services to the increasing presence of EVs on the roads.
- The Thuringian Firefighters' Association provides training courses at the state fire academy to keep their colleagues updated on handling electric car fires, including the use of specialized techniques and safety measures.
- In Thuringia, firefighters are equipped with thermal imaging cameras to detect hot spots in the battery packs of electric vehicles during fires, aiding in effective firefighting.
- Often, disposal companies are responsible for transporting electric cars that have caught fire, but smaller fire departments may use innovative methods like rolling the vehicle onto a tarp and letting water run into it for transport.
- The frequency of electric car fires in Thuringia isn't well-documented, as neither the state statistics office, the state or federal firefighters' association, nor the overall insurance association maintain records of such incidents.
- According to insurers' statistics, electric cars do not appear to pose a higher fire risk than conventional cars in the year 2023.
- In extreme cases, whole battery packs of electric vehicles may need to be submerged in water or foam to extinguish and cool them, requiring specialized containment to manage environmental risks and minimize damage.
