$240K grant helps N.Y. firefighters fight EV fires

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — Doyle Hose No. 1 Fire Company has added new equipment to tackle electric vehicle fires, using a $240,000 taxpayer-supported congressional grant secured through U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy’s office.

Chief Don Szumigala said the department purchased the Rosenbauer BEST system , a device designed specifically for lithium-ion battery incidents.

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“Electric car fire batteries pose a unique challenge for firefighters, and they require special equipment,” Szumigala said.

The BEST system connects to standard hose lines and is engineered to slide beneath a burning vehicle to cool the battery pack during an EV fire, WGRZ reported.

Joe Caughey, Rosenbauer America’s director of firefighting and body components, said the tool addresses complications created by batteries mounted under the vehicle, allowing crews to apply water directly where it’s needed.

“To access that is one of the hardest parts of trying to fight these fires. We’ve seen stories of people using six, 10, 12, 15 thousand gallons of water to extinguish a single vehicle fire, and your average fire truck typically carries about 750 gallons of water,” Caughey said. “And where these fires take place often are out on freeways in areas that don’t have fire hydrants.”


Officials said the addition will bolster the department’s ability to manage EV-related emergencies.

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