But that doesn't mean they are less scary for those who witness them. This is especially true since extinguishing a battery fire can be extremely difficult. The reaction is self-sustainable as long as the battery pack is still warm. Firefighters know this, and cooling the battery pack is their main priority. Depending on their equipment, some departments may immerse the car in a water pool to help cool down the Li-Ion cells. When such equipment is unavailable, they either let it burn while ensuring the fire doesn't extend or they spend an insane amount of water to put the fire out.
Many things could cause a battery fire, starting with a manufacturing defect, as owners of the Chevrolet Bolt know that too well. EV battery packs are also prone to damage. There's a reason why insurance companies usually write off an EV, even for minor damage to the battery pack. It's simply too dangerous to let them back on the road, and they don't want to take any risk. Finally, water doesn't mix well with Li-ion batteries, and we've seen flooding triggering a wave of EV fires, most recently in the wake of hurricane Ian.
A battery fire that happened Wednesday in Arizona's Oak Creek Canyon has flooding as the suspected cause. Sedona Fire District crews discovered that the fire originated in the high-voltage battery pack of a Tesla Model Y. Firefighters needed one and a half hours to extinguish the blaze. To cool down the battery pack, the crew lifted the Tesla using a jack and sprayed the battery with water.
The area is currently under warning, and the SR 89A road, where the incident happened, has been closed because of a landslide. Without further information, it's hard to know what caused the battery fire in this Tesla. It could have been a rock under the car that damaged the battery pack, or the Model Y's battery pack could've been affected by the flooding. If you have more information about this incident, don't hesitate to contact us.
@SedonaFD crews responded today to a reported vehicle fire in Oak Creek Canyon. Upon arrival a Tesla with a fire in the high voltage battery was located. Crews worked to extinguish the fire for over 1.5 hours. @VerdeNews @azfamily @abc15 @AZFirefighters @kaffnews @sedonanews pic.twitter.com/u2uxr8hQBO
— Sedona Fire District (@SedonaFD) March 21, 2023
Here's a closer look within the closure on SR 89A (Oak Creek Canyon).
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) March 21, 2023
At this time we strongly encourage postponing non-essential travel in northern Arizona. If that's not possible, pack an emergency kit and be prepared to spend extended time in winter conditions.#azwx pic.twitter.com/57MHtCNnc2