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Fire chiefs outline protocols, equipment for electric-vehicle fires at new parking deck
Summary
Fire Department chiefs briefed council on EV-fire response: EV fires occur less often but can be longer and require special tactics (thermal-runaway risks, toxic runoff); the department trained in the parking deck and acquired a fire blanket, compressed-foam "mule" and high-rise packs to improve response capability.
Woodstock—ity—ire Department leaders briefed council on Aug. 18 about electric-vehicle (EV) fire risks and the city's operational response, emphasizing both the low frequency of EV fires and the unique challenges they pose.
Presenters described characteristics of EV incidents — possible thermal-runaway behavior that can cause extended burning and reinflammation, toxic combustion products and acidic runoff — and compared historical rates (department presentations referenced national data on EV versus internal combustion engine fires). The department summarized tactics and equipment purchases: a deployable fire blanket that can reduce ambient temperature in tests, a compressed-air foam 'mule' with a 30-gallon tank for limited interior access in parking decks, high-rise packs and standpipe plans for multi-level structures, and the importance of sprinkler systems and parking-deck engineering to slow exposures.
Fire staff said they trained inside the parking deck before it opened, conducted controlled burn and blanket-deployment exercises, and built pre-planned connector points to allow firefighters to flow sprinklers and access standpipes. The chiefs also discussed environmental concerns about runoff containing heavy metals and acids and the need for cleanup protocols; they reported a small number of local vehicle fires during recent years and acknowledged continuing training needs.
Council thanked staff and requested a repeat briefing for absent council members. No policy action was taken beyond recognizing the department's preparedness steps.
