Managing EV Fires: Free Safety Awareness Session for First Responders

As of December 2024, New Jersey had over 200,000 registered electric vehicles (EVs). With EV adoption on the rise, it is crucial for first responders to understand how to safely manage incidents involving these vehicles.

Traditional firefighting techniques may not be effective for EV-related fires due to the high-voltage systems they operate on. Although EVs are less likely to catch fire compared to gasoline-powered vehicles, they burn at significantly higher temperatures (up to 5,000°F versus 1,500°F) and can reignite even after being extinguished. As a result, handling EV fires requires specialized knowledge and procedures.

To address this need, EZ Ride, in partnership with the New Jersey Electric Vehicle Association (NJEVA), is offering a free two-hour EV Safety Awareness session for first responders. The program features a presentation by an experienced volunteer firefighter and energy storage expert, covering:

  • Best practices for safely approaching and stabilizing an EV at an incident scene
  • Proper procedures for cooling and securing EV batteries post-fire
  • Hands-on demonstrations using multiple EVs to show battery disconnection techniques

NJEVA has previously delivered this training at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy and Princeton Junction’s Fire Co. #1.

Municipalities that participate in the program could earn 15 certification points through Sustainable Jersey under the “Make Your Town EV Friendly” Action category. Offering First Responder EV and EV Supply Equipment training is considered a mandatory task for this initiative, and many municipalities secure grants to enhance their community’s sustainability efforts.

Schedule a Free EV Safety Awareness Session

Communities interested in hosting this valuable training can apply at ezride.org. Resources are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. For more details, email [email protected] or call 201-939-4242 (Option 6).