WSJ Says Best Way to Extinguish a Flaming Electric Vehicle? Let It Burn

Best Way to Extinguish a Flaming Electric Vehicle? Let It Burn

Firefighters called to extinguish an electric-vehicle fire are discovering the surest approach is to stand back and watch it burn. Electric cars combust differently than their gas-powered counterparts. Firefighters and researchers said EV fires last longer, are harder to put out and have a tendency to reignite. First responders in Franklin, Tenn., faced their first burning EV in September, a Nissan Leaf that ignited while charging outside the car maker’s North America headquarters. They spent hours pouring 45,000 gallons of water on the car, compared with the 500 to 1,000 gallons that fires involving gasoline-powered vehicles usually need, Fire Marshal Andy King said. “I think if we were faced with a similar scenario next time, we might need to let it burn,” he said. It isn’t clear how frequently EV fires take place, but as the cars become a larger part of the American fleet, some fire departments see them as a growing nuisance. According to The Wall Street Journal, firefighters in Florida’s North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District responded to six last year after a storm surge brought by Hurricane Ian caused saltwater to get into EV battery compartments, which can cause short-circuits. Click here for the full stor