High-speed, high-impact and/or undercarriage damaging events can be assumed to cause fire. • Stranded electricity should be assumed EVEN IF THE LOOP CONNECTORS ARE CUT!
• Fires can’t be extinguished easily. Once thermal runaway starts, it is difficult to stop. • Fires can re-start hours, or sometimes even days later. Isolate the vehicle.
Other Resources to Consider View Allstate Roadside’s safety video – Insights into Electric Vehicles, at vimeo.com/475455372/8e5d2aa9b2 To learn more about Lithium-ion battery fires in EVs, or to access a collection of vehicle-specific safety sheets, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website: nfpa.org/Training-and-Events/By-topic/Alternative-FuelVehicle-Safety-Training/Tow-operator-training NTSB report, Safety Risks to Emergency Responders from Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles is a comprehensive report largely targeted at First Responders (fire, police, EMT), Second Responders (tow operators – sorry, their term, not ours!), OEMs and others.The entire report be can downloaded at ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SR2001.pdf
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | June 2021 • 39