In a surprising example of irony, the brand new Stadt-Allendorf fire station in the German state of Hesse was destroyed by one of its own emergency vehicles on October 16th. The vehicle is equipped with lithium-ion batteries and an external power connection, which appears to have caused the fire, but firefighters were unable to extinguish it.
The station, which opened in January 2024, was hailed as “modern, innovative and cutting-edge” by Oberhessische Presse. However, the station apparently did not have a fire alarm installed, as experts deemed it an unnecessary expense. Damages are estimated at 20 million to 24 million euros ($21 million to $26 million). Approximately 170 firefighters extinguished the intense fire, but 10 vehicles were lost.
“This is every firefighter's nightmare. No one wants to have to put out a firehouse themselves,” District Fire Inspector Lars Schaefer said.
Lithium ion dangers
Many media reports note that stations are not equipped with fire alarms, while others report on the volatility and potential fire hazards of lithium-ion batteries associated with electric emergency vehicles. Almost none.
“While these batteries provide an effective and efficient power source, if damaged or improperly used, charged, or stored, they are more likely to overheat, catch fire, and even explode. ” states the National Fire Protection Association (NFLA). ) Note.
Electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries have become a key element of the “net zero” policies that climate change activists are pushing on governments around the world to combat man-made climate change. Climate change fanatics claim that this climate change is an existential threat to the planet. Unfortunately, the fire risk of such vehicles is downplayed or ignored, despite growing evidence that they are dangerous.
EV fire
For example, in the UK, there have been several fire accidents involving electric buses. Around 1,800 electric buses based in Manchester, Coventry, Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, Glasgow and Aberdeen faced a recall due to fire hazards. At least three electric buses have caught fire in London over the past year.
In Düsseldorf, Germany, 40 buses, both electric and internal combustion engines, were destroyed at a depot in 2021. Although the cause of the fire was officially unknown, the fire had to be extinguished using EV protocols, which are much more complex than normal fire containment methods.
Remember also that in July, a large section of Interstate 15 between Barstow and Baker, California, was closed for an extended period of time when a truck carrying commercial lithium-ion batteries overturned and burst into flames. . Thousands of motorists were stranded for days as fires raged and toxic gases spread into the sky.
And now, in the ultimate irony, a fire caused by an electric car has destroyed the fire station. By all appearances, the new fire station had all the latest firefighting equipment, but it was still burning. If a fire department with all this equipment can't extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire on its own property, it's time to admit that such vehicles are not such a safe and sustainable option after all. Isn't it?
