From regulation to suppression, the issues surrounding batteries and the fires they can cause have become a major concern in the fire and safety sector.
Throughout his 17-year career with Aurora (CO) Fire Rescue, Paul Shoemaker has served on the technical rescue team, worked as a hazmat technician and become a seasoned firefighter paramedic.
He is also the owner of Next Level Extrication and participates in several advisory panels with UL involving lithium-ion batteries.
Paul’s focus on battery and electric vehicle fires began about 14 years ago when the transition from hybrid to fully electric vehicles was underway.
Collaborating with the likes of Tesla, he identified challenges related to extrication tools and vehicle design, leading to significant improvements for first responders.
This work caught the attention of the NFPA, which led to his involvement in developing training programs for firefighters on electric vehicle extrication.
Over the past four years, Paul has worked with UL and FSRI on lithium-ion battery development, examining fire behavior in vehicles and buildings and addressing the explosive potential of these batteries.
His educational business evolved from these experiences, enabling him to teach firefighters nationwide, sharing invaluable knowledge from leaders in the fire service.
In this discussion with FSJA Editor Iain Hoey, Paul shares his expertise on the unique challenges and critical safety measures associated with lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle fires.
With lithium-ion batteries, issues range from small batteries in devices to large capacity batteries.
For example, I recently responded to a call where a lithium-ion battery scooter was charging by the front door of a third-floor apartment.
If that scooter caught fire, it would rapidly change interior conditions, blocking egress and increasing heat production.
Lithium-ion fires ignite quickly, causing rapid condition changes.
Firefighters need to respond faster than ever to rescue occupants and extinguish the fire.
Even small batteries can cause significant fires.
These batteries emit toxic gases, such as carbon dioxide, which can fill an entire structure from floor to ceiling.
These gases are dangerous, reducing oxygen levels and potentially rendering occupants unconscious before a fire even starts.
Firefighters must approach investigations differently, understanding that even minor incidents could involve hazardous lithium-ion batteries.
They need to be prepared for rescues in environments with toxic gases and low oxygen levels.
Additionally, these batteries produce explosive gases like hydrogen.
Introducing oxygen during an investigation can trigger an explosion if a battery is the ignition source.
Large capacity batteries, like those in vehicles or energy storage systems (ESS) for homes and commercial properties, present even greater risks.
ESS systems can store significant energy and, if they explode, can cause extensive damage.
Commercial settings, like warehouses storing batteries, pose dangers to anyone nearby if an explosion occurs.
The key challenge is the inconsistency of lithium-ion batteries.
Their behavior can vary, making it difficult to provide definitive guidelines.
However, understanding these risks and preparing for rapid response and rescue is crucial for firefighter training.
The main objective is to understand that we’re not dealing with standard car fires anymore.
Fires involving lithium-ion batteries burn extremely hot and fast, can spread rapidly and potentially explode.
For instance, in Colorado, a car’s lithium-ion battery off-gassed, found an ignition source and blew the car doors off, nearly injuring a firefighter.
This shows how rapidly conditions can change.
The training focuses on slowing down and recognizing the capabilities of lithium-ion batteries.
We train firefighters to identify these batteries and make correct tactical decisions.
Fire service used to deal with legacy construction where flashover could occur in 15-30 minutes, giving ample time to respond.
Modern construction materials reduced this to about 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
Now, with lithium-ion batteries, a double flashover and explosion can happen in as little as 36 seconds.
We teach how to handle these fires on the road and in structures like garages.
We also cover identifying gases produced by these batteries—some are lighter than air and rise, while others are heavier and sink.
Recognizing the colors and density of these gases is crucial.
The sessions include videos to provide visual evidence of these incidents, reinforcing the learning.
The goal is to help firefighters slow down, recognize and understand the rapid changes they will face.
The training is a comprehensive four-hour session, but these are the core points we emphasize.
Our focus in the fire service is adapting as firefighters.
We don’t necessarily need more equipment; we need education and training on the changes.
Firefighters are problem solvers, capable of understanding and fixing issues quickly.
The challenge is getting the education out fast enough to keep up with the pace of lithium-ion battery development.
Education is happening globally, with many individuals now recognizing the problem and working within their organizations to build training programs, policies and procedures.
The interest is high and many are reaching out to me for advice on implementing training in their organizations.
The main issue is that many organizations haven’t received this training yet, often due to funding constraints.
Investing in training and funding for departments through grants is crucial.
Firefighters are quick learners and can adapt rapidly once they receive the necessary training.
We should focus on funding for personnel, training opportunities and possibly additional rigs to help departments respond effectively.
Grants are available to support these needs.
We need to focus on public education, much like we do with car seats and smoke alarms.
For example, our organization installs smoke alarms and educates the public on their use.
However, there isn’t a nationwide initiative for lithium-ion battery safety, but some departments are becoming proactive.
One crucial recommendation is to avoid charging these batteries inside.
If you must charge them indoors, do it while you’re awake and can monitor them.
That way, if something goes wrong, you can unplug and remove it.
Charging in a garage is preferable because it is designed to contain vehicle fires with thicker doors to prevent the spread into living spaces.
Never charge batteries in bedrooms, near beds, or by the front door of an apartment where it could block an escape route.
Charge them in a back room or another safe area.
If a fire starts, it won’t block your exit and you can call the fire department.
It’s important to note that lithium-ion batteries often get a bad reputation because the fire service is still learning about them.
While there is some intimidation, the reality is that UL-rated batteries—found in most cars, high-end e-bikes, scooters and RC cars—are much safer.
They have a very low failure rate, around 3% or less.
The problem lies with cheaper, non-UL-rated batteries often purchased online from unknown sources.
These batteries can have a failure rate around 30%.
While it’s difficult to convince people to buy more expensive, safer products, understanding the risks and taking precautions can significantly reduce potential hazards.
People often buy inexpensive products, opting for the cheaper option which breaks quickly.
This isn’t anyone’s fault; manufacturers build for different price points to accommodate all consumers.
To mitigate risks, I encourage people to ensure their batteries are UL-rated.
However, we can’t completely fix this issue.
If you choose cheaper options, remember the risks and take precautions: don’t charge them overnight, don’t block exits and don’t charge them in the bedroom where you sleep.
Educating people is crucial.
We advise on smoke detectors, but not everyone replaces the batteries.
Similarly, we need to keep educating about lithium-ion batteries.
People may not have much money, but understanding the risks can help them make safer choices.
In the fire service, we are problem solvers.
We must be ready to take care of the citizens, train on these issues and educate.
Once we get comfortable with these new challenges, we won’t have problems.
We adapted to modern construction and we will adapt to this too.
I aim to continue educating.
I enjoy being a teacher because I’m passionate about it.
I want to stay ahead of hot topics and be at the forefront of educating about new challenges.
I see many of the people I train as family.
We spend a lot of time together and they often contact me afterward.
My ultimate goal is to protect human life—both citizens and firefighters—by educating on potential dangers like lithium-ion batteries.
I don’t make rescues every day on the job, but by educating the public and firefighters, I can save lives indirectly.
I’ve heard from firefighters who approached lithium-ion battery incidents differently because of my training and they believe it saved their lives.
That’s my goal: to educate and save lives.
I’ll continue doing this until I retire and then I’ll pass on my knowledge to the next generation of educators.
