Electric vehicles are growing in popularity on our roads and firefighters on Hawaii Island are preparing should the battery on one ignite.
Once an EV catches fire, it is difficult to put out.
Videos on YouTube from various fire departments show the hours-long efforts as first responders pour thousands of gallons of water on burning cars.
Hawaii Island firefighters participated in a course earlier this year to learn more about the dangers of lithium batteries. There are three options they have when an electric car catches fire. The first and preferred option is non-intervention, basically monitoring the fire as it burns itself out. Hawaii Fire Department Battalion Chief Patrick Springer said this is the fastest way if it “isn’t imminently posing a threat to life or property.”
While that may disrupt traffic, sometimes for hours, it’s also safer and saves water, according to experts.