SFT-Review - Flipbook - Page 13
The Expanding Scope of “All Hazards”
The fire service’s growth beyond fire suppression was
not the result of a single decision, but of decades of
incremental adaptation. Communities turned to us
because we are organized, available, and capable.
When new risks emerge, the fire service steps forward.
Today, we are witnessing yet another inflection point
in our expanding mission, the rapid proliferation of
lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, home energy
storage systems, and utility scale storage facilities
represents both a technological revolution and a
public safety challenge.
A Case Study in Emerging Risk
Recently, two incidents occurred in California which
highlighted the challenge. The first involved an electric
vehicle (EV) that caught fire following a collision.
Approximately four hours after the vehicle struck a
tree around midnight, its damaged battery system
entered thermal runaway while being moved by a
tow truck. The impact had compromised the battery
compartment, scattering roughly 300 small, cylindrical
(AA-sized) battery cells across the roadway.
After the driver was transported for medical care,
on-scene crews requested a HazMat response to assist
with the cleanup. The scattered cells were collected
and placed into 55-gallon drums for disposal. As the
vehicle was later loaded onto a flatbed tow truck for
transport to a wrecking yard, the remaining batteries
reignited in a thermal runaway event, producing a
dense cloud of toxic gases.
Although suppression crews quickly extinguished the
flames, the gas plume drifted several hundred yards
through the night air, enveloping members of the
HazMat team who were still monitoring the cleanup
operation. Several firefighters inhaled the fumes before
they could evacuate the area.
Separately in another jurisdiction there was a structure
fire, crews made their way to the seat of the fire in the
basement and extinguished the fire. Interestingly, when
firefighters were performing overhaul, they noticed
that all the copper (water) pipes in the basement
were red hot and energized. They determined that the
ESS was somehow installed in a way that allowed
power to charge the pipes and ignite the structure fire.
These home emergency storage systems require no
exterior placarding that would indicate their presence
to responding firefighters and often operate silently
until something goes wrong. Aside from this incident,
firefighters have encountered unexpected explosions,
illegal battery chop shops, and thermal runaway
events that reignite hours or even days later.
These examples are not isolated; they are a harbinger
of the evolving environment in which we operate.
Each new technology introduces unknowns such
as materials, chemistries, and behaviors that differ
from what our traditional training has prepared us to
handle.
PERSPECTIVES
