Special Blanket Used To Stop Burning Tesla

A special fire suppression blanket was used Tuesday evening when an electric car burst into flames.

The Falls Township Fire Company reported that crews were dispatched to a scrap yard on MY Lane after an electric car was found fully engulfed in flames.

The fire led to the Morrisville and Levittown No. 1 fire companies being called to assist, and the Third District Fire Company responding on the scene with the specialized equipment.

The fire suppression blanket brought by the Third District Fire Company was designed to extinguish lithium-ion battery fires, which was key in containing the electric vehicle fire.

Firefighters pulled the burning vehicle to a clear area and covered it with the blanket to snuff out the flames, officials said.

No injuries were reported.

As the number of electric vehicles increases, fire companies have been training to handle new challenges.

While electric vehicle fires are less common than those in gasoline-powered cars, they present different risks due to the nature of lithium-ion batteries.

The lithium-ion batteries can undergo thermal runaway, a dangerous condition where heat and flammable gases are emitted, which can potentially causing the battery to explode or reignite even after being extinguished.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, firefighters across the nation respond to approximately 170,000 vehicle fires annually and most involve traditional gas-powered vehicles. However, a report by the National Fire Protection Association indicates that electric vehicle fires occur less frequently, estimated at 25 fires per 100,000 vehicles.

Federal literature from 2020 pointed to the array of safety risks that electric vehicle fires pose to first responders, including potential electric shock and the possibility of battery reignition.

Regulations have been put in place for airliners after some lithium-ion battery fires that caused problems as the planes cruised high above any fire stations.

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