Thermal runaway determined as cause for repair shop fire
The Providence Fire Department has determined that a March auto repair shop fire was started by thermal runaway from a GMC Hummer EV, according to local news reports.
The fire damaged four cars and Batista Auto Repair, WJAR reports.
“Due to the location of the fire and its nature, investigators said they believe the fire was caused by a failure of the high-voltage lithium-ion battery system,” the news story says.
Investigators say there was evidence of flames under the Hummer, which helped them make their determination, along with witness testimony and video clips.
Nearly 50 firefighters responded to the fire, previous reports say. They add that no one was injured by the fire.
OEM1Stop.com is an industry site, developed by automakers, that provides access to vehicle repair and service information including Emergency Service Guides for first responders, written by OEMs. The guides include proper battery removal and storage guidance and information about what should happen once the vehicle is brought inside the repair facility.
The Energy Security Agency (ESA) also staffs a 24/7 Guidance Center for first responders, towing and recovery, recyclers, salvage yards, and the repair industry to answer questions about properly handling EV and hybrid vehicles.
The center can walk through risk assessments and help each party label the vehicles with color-coded stickers that warn others of potential risks.
The National Fire Protection Association offers numerous EV training courses online for first responders and the general public, including training sessions for vehicle dealerships. The U.S. Department of Energy website also lists EV fire training resources.
Autobody News also recently explored EV fire safety during a video segment that you can watch here.
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