In conjunction with the 2023 Firefighter Safety Stand Down, Lexipol has released updated Fire Procedures that address the issues involved with lithium-ion batteries.
These procedures provide guidance on vehicle fires, vehicle extrications and structure fires. Included as part of the Lexipol Fire Policies & Procedures subscription, we are offering them free to all fire service professionals to support firefighter safety and survival.
Structure Fire Response
Lithium-ion batteries can easily cause structure fires when they are breached or experience thermal runaway while being used or charged inside or in close proximity to a building. This procedure identifies best practices to be used at all structure fires and highlights challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries.
Traffic Collisions and Vehicle Fire Response
A very common response type for most fire departments is vehicle fires. As we see more and more electric vehicles (EVs) on the road, there is a good chance your department will encounter a fire involving one of these vehicles. This procedure identifies best practices to be used at all traffic collisions and vehicle fire responses, and highlights challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries that may be found in these vehicles.
Vehicle Extrication Operations
Extrication operations involving EVs may pose unique challenges to personnel. In addition to the “standard” hazards, personnel need to avoid certain areas of the vehicle and must avoid causing damage to the battery cell. This procedure identifies best practices to be used at all vehicle extrications and highlights challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries that may be found in these vehicles.
Learn more about Lexipol Fire Policies and Procedures.