Lithium-ion battery fires
Lithium-ion batteries are powering more devices than ever. From personal electronics and mobility devices (e-bikes, scooters, wheelchairs) to energy storage systems (ESS), electric vehicles and manufacturing facilities, firefighters are responding to myriad incident types that require a new approach. These calls challenge our crews, in part due to their long duration. The FireRescue1 lithium-ion battery fire resource page includes news and subject-matter expert analysis of this emerging issue.
Security footage shows a masked suspect vandalizing a Tesla service center with the word “resist” before hurling Molotov cocktails and shooting at multiple vehicles
Firefighters love testing new tactics and tools, but some methods simply don’t address the key issue with EV fires
Authorities are investigating incendiary devices found at a Tesla dealership in Austin in the latest in a string of incidents targeting Elon Musk’s company
Fire involving li-ion batteries blocked the doorway of the second-floor apartment in Brooklyn
Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh told the online retailer the city has experienced 14 fire deaths to date caused by lithium-ion batteries
San Diego would be the first city in the county to battery storage and disposal
Norwalk firefighters used multiple dry chemical extinguishers to put the fire out
Li-ion batteries are here to stay and it’s on firefighters to keep up with advances in battery technology
It’s time for the fire service to get a seat at the table of technological advancements that will impact our service delivery
The discovery of a fake sticker in a fatal Queens fire has led to department to inspect e-bike shops across the city
Sanford firefighters work to stay up-to-date on the latest vehicle technology
Saltwater can trigger spontaneous combustion of lithium-ion batteries in electric cars, scooters and some golf carts
The fire service is uniquely positioned to lead the transition to more electric devices in our homes, workplaces and community as a whole
Wareham firefighters spent three hours fighting an electric car fire after it spontaneously began to burn
Sacramento firefighters say the Tesla had been sitting idle in a rack when it began to burn
Firefighters in Chaumont have contained the fire at the Convergent Energy and Power site and will stand a fire watch as the investigation begins
Commissioner Laura Kavanagh spoke to the Consumer Product Safety Commission urging new safety standards
Over 200 fires have been reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission from 39 states over two years
30 backup batteries for MRI machines had begun “off-gassing,” creating a hazmat incident in the Tampa facility
Chief Joe Jardin claims Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh ignored a call to support the ban and would not invite city council members to training on the fires
Mayor Eric Adams hopes the stations will give delivery workers a safer way to charge lithium-ion batteries
See how Miami-Dade, San Diego and other departments use social media to increase public awareness about lithium-ion battery fire dangers
The Manhattan shop had e-bikes charging with extension cords, e-bike and scooter battery packs lined up next to each other and no designated charging area
Within 6 months the number of people killed in lithium-ion battery fires has more than doubled over last year
FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief John Sarrocco said firefighters found heavy fire in the e-bike shop on the ground floor of the six-story building
Eric Valliere, chair of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association, spoke with FireRescue1 about this year’s safety push around electric batteries
Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine details this year’s Firefighter Safety Stand Down theme, from EVs to e-bikes and beyond
Incorporating the annual theme into training takes planning, repetition and creativity
10 ways to incorporate the Firefighter Safety Stand Down theme into training and education activities
San Diego Fire Rescue hazardous materials team responded to the container fire that threatened a home and high-rise
Fires involving e-bikes and similar devices in NYC have killed 9 people this year, compared to 10 in 2022, 2021 combined
The fatal fire happened amid growing concern in the city about fires linked to the lithium ion batteries that power electric bikes and scooters
Without data, the extent of the problem is unknown
