FLORIDA – Florida CFO and State Fire Marshall Jimmy Patronis confirmed 16 lithium-ion battery fires related to storm surge from Hurricane Helene.
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Officials said six of those fires are associated with electric vehicles and they are working with fire departments statewide to gather more data.
Patronis’ office is working with other organizations for guidance on proper lithium-ion battery disposal.
“Saltwater storm surge makes EVs a dangerous fire threat and if you have one of these vehicles including cars, scooters, hoverboards, golf carts or children’s toys that have been compromised by flooding, please unplug the vehicle or device and move it safely from your home or apartment into a clear open space,” Patronis said.
EVs and lithium-battery powered devices cannot be disposed of in a typical car lot or trash bin.
You can contact your local government on the best locations for safe disposal.
Here are some fire safety tips if your EV, hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicle was flooded during Hurricane Helene:
- Leave all windows and/or doors open to allow any potentially flammable gases to vent from the passenger compartment.
- If the vehicle is being stored indoors, and can be moved, move it outside into an open-air location. If it cannot be moved, try to keep the storage area open and vented.
- Unplug and do not attempt to charge the vehicle.
- Disable the vehicle by chocking the wheels, placing the gearshift in park and removing the ignition key and/or disconnecting the 12V battery.
- Avoid contact with the HV battery especially if a vehicle is showing signs of a damaged or overheating HV battery.
- Follow manufacturers recommendations for your specific vehicle.