Electric Vehicle on Fire: What to Do in the First Few Minutes
Electric Vehicle on Fire: What to Do in the First Few Minutes
Electric vehicle fires are less common than fires in conventional combustion-engine cars, but once they start, they tend to be harder to control and more dangerous in several ways. What a bystander does in the first few minutes directly affects their own safety and that of people nearby.
Why EV Fires Are Harder to Handle Than Conventional Vehicle Fires
A lithium-ion battery fire is driven by thermal runaway, a reaction in which the battery keeps generating heat and gas on its own even after the visible flame has been knocked down. Dousing it with a normal volume of water in the early stages often isn’t enough, and it typically takes far more water than putting out a conventional vehicle fire.
What to Do Immediately
Call the fire department or emergency services right away, and clearly state that it’s an electric vehicle, since responders need different equipment and tactics than for a conventional vehicle fire
Move yourself and others to a safe distance from the vehicle, since smoke from a burning battery carries toxic substances
Never touch the vehicle’s body or metal parts directly, since the temperature can rise far faster than expected
Don’t attempt to start or move the vehicle yourself; leave that to trained responders
Keep uninvolved people away from the area, especially in enclosed spaces like underground parking, where smoke and heat build up faster than in the open
The Role of a Fire Blanket in This Situation
At sites that keep an EV fire blanket on hand, trained staff can deploy it over the vehicle to trap heat and cut off outside oxygen, helping slow the fire’s spread and limiting toxic smoke from spreading widely while waiting for the fire department to take full control. The blanket acts as a containment and delay measure, not a way to fully extinguish the fire on its own.
Precautions After the Fire Appears to Be Out
Even after the flames are out and the smoke has cleared, a heat-damaged battery can still hold residual heat inside and may reignite later, anywhere from a few hours to several days after the initial incident. The vehicle shouldn’t be moved near a building or a crowded area until professionals confirm it’s safe.
Preparing Before an Incident Happens
High-risk areas such as parking lots, EV charging stations, and EV service centers should keep a fire blanket in an easily accessible spot, with staff trained in advance on how to use it, so they can respond immediately if a real incident occurs.
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