VIDEO: Car fires are nothing new -- but electric car fires are different. Now, the Shelby Township Fire Department has a new tool that saves time -- when putting out the flames.
The key is a giant fire blanket for the very specific type of fire. "These were bought specifically to help us in the event of an electric vehicle fire," said Lt. Robert Muylaert, Shelby Township Fire.
As more EVs hit the road, fire departments must be prepared for the potential of things to go wrong.
"We’d rather have something prepared in advance, than wait for the disaster to happen," he said.
A typical car fire can be extinguished in minutes, but electric cars burn differently.
"It can take four to five hours to extinguish a battery fire and after that, once it gets to a tow yard, they have had those fires reignite - even two to three days afterward," Muylaert said.