Preparing emergency responders for the coming wave of electric vehicles

[jack10562 414]

From the National Fire Protection Association

http://www.nfpa.org/itemdetailjournal.asp?categoryID=2101&itemID=49197

While many of us are familiar with hybrid vehicles, we don’t see electric vehicles on the road—at least not yet. But they’re on their way.

Specifically, the recent study available from the Foundation on electric vehicles (Firefighter Safety and Emergency Response for Electric Drive and Hybrid Electric Vehicle PDF 4MB) provides convenient information for the development of base content for this topic.

There will soon be more of these vehicles on the road, and they bring special implications associated with them including public and private charging stations.

This topic is something every first responder should have knowledge about.

[FiftyOnePride 100]

From the National Fire Protection Association

http://www.nfpa.org/...01&itemID=49197

There will soon be more of these vehicles on the road, and they bring special implications associated with them including public and private charging stations.

This topic is something every first responder should have knowledge about.

Thank you for posting that. I think a lot of the problem that I see associated with electric powered vehicles is the immense amount of variation that takes place in vehicle design and placement of batteries and whatnot. We are finally starting to get the basics of electric and alternative fueled vehicles, but it is the variations which are the mystery and equally as dangerous part left that we have to master.

More emphasis is being placed on all of this, which is good. I took an alternative fueled vehicle course at Montours I believe last year and it was a great starting point, think about how most jurisdictions probably see more MVA's than structure fires.. kind of puts an emphasis on the need to be well versed in these fields. Not to take away anything from garnering knowledge on building construction and structural tactics and considerations, but it is something that when put into perspective: vehicle construction is just as important as that of a building.

Fire Engineering had a great article on HID lights, and the dangers they could pose during an MVA or Car Fire...