In my article in the previous issue of Fire and Safety Journal Americas, I described a typical scenario of a car fire in an underground high-rise parking garage, along with what we learned from previous fires. Data shows the intensity at which EV fires can burn, measured in megawatts, BTUs, heat release rates and heat flux.
The unpredictability of the duration for which EVs will burn is also noted. Additionally, research shows how much smoke is produced by volume and the toxins within that smoke.
Studies inform us of how long firefighters’ PPE can protect them in hostile environments and the statistics indicate the duration of their SCBA usage. Engineers know the temperature at which concrete spalls and metal melts.
With this information, we can predict the amount of water to use and forecast the response and deployment model based on timing.
Our group is currently trying to connect the dots. If we can predict it, we can prevent it.
Brent Brooks
Until science proves otherwise, our solution today is surprisingly over two centuries old. It’s a tool combined with tactics that limit firefighters’ exposure to dangerous environments. It’s the smallest, lightest, fastest and safest tool we have to date. It also flows the most water by volume without the operator experiencing any nozzle reaction.
It cools and captures toxins simultaneously. It can be abandoned and allowed to work unstaffed and controlled remotely, out of harm’s way. It’s called a Rotary Distributor.
The training is straightforward because the Rotary Distributor is familiar to us, and it currently works with our hose and nozzle package for high-rise operations. It takes up little storage on the fire truck, making it practical for any apparatus.
The Rotary Distributor has been in the fire service for over 200 years. It originated from the New York City Fire Department by Battalion Chief John J. Bresnan of Battalion 3. An 1800s innovation still tackling.
The initial firefighters responding to an underground incident should bring their standard equipment and the Rotary Distributor(s). This setup offers excellent initial protection for our firefighters.
In my world, the deployment model would include six firefighters carrying six 15 m (50’) 65 mm (2.5”) hose packs, two standpipe kits (Gate and Gauge), two sets of irons (Halligan bar and flathead axe), and two thermal imagers.
When deployed dry, the hose packs act as lifelines, providing up to 91 m (300’) from the water source or area of safety. Our hose and nozzle package allows us to add additional hose lengths to the lead length (nozzle section) and change tactics without stretching additional lines, thereby reducing reaction time.
The rationale behind the Rotary Distributor in the cage is that it can be positioned to protect exposures around the burning EV. A distributor cage is designed to keep the distributor spinning while being used horizontally.
Distributor placement is intended to protect the neighbouring vehicles, preventing the chain reaction of multiple car fires. We can only extinguish EV fires once they have released all their energy.
We can, however, control the spread of fire with a ball of water that produces 11 m (36 feet) of coverage, helping prevent the concrete ceiling from spalling.
We are limiting the potential for collapse. The flow rate of the distributor is a whopping 2000 lpm (500 gpm). The advantage of the distributor is that it can be left unattended while still flowing, as it does not have any nozzle reaction.
Deploying the distributor is straightforward. It connects directly to the initial hose line used by the first arriving crews, eliminating the need to deploy additional lines. To set it up, remove the nozzle tip and attach the distributor.
The line should be shut down for a few seconds at the nozzle’s bale instead of at the fire pump or valve outlet. If you do not have a cage available, the distributor can be propped up and secured using a Halligan bar, allowing it to rotate freely.
Other methods of controlling EV fires in an “underground” environment include under-vehicle water application nozzles and blankets. I have not been convinced of these alternate tactics. As a 30-year end user, I can tell you we must consider that firefighters carry heavy equipment long distances underground in zero to poor visibility.
What is practical? What is fast? What can be done immediately by the first arriving crews that locate the EV fire? We also have to consider storage on the apparatus and practical deployment times.
Brent Brooks
What does the training look like, and can the EV solution be used for other firefighting scenarios? We have successfully deployed it on the exterior of a 22-storey high-rise building with fire running nine storeys vertically to the roof.
I prefer to avoid attempting to use fire blankets for underground fires because they are challenging to deploy in zero visibility and are quite heavy for initial crews trying to locate the fire. Water is a far more effective blanket because it cools, captures and grounds the toxic particulates in smoke.
Moreover, it is safer, as firefighters do not need to engage in close proximity as they would when utilizing a blanket. It is neither safe nor practical to send four firefighters downrange between two cars with a blowtorch positioned at their legs and ankles.
If the vehicle is against a wall—which is often the case when connected to a charging station—it does not provide an escape route for firefighters attempting to deploy the blanket.
If the car explodes or a firefighter stumbles and falls between the vehicles, the consequences could be dire since they would be in direct flame contact. Studies show the temperature at which our SCBA face pieces, radios, flashlights, fire hose and bunker gear fail.
Compared to deploying a blanket, a rotary distributor requires less time in the smoke and reduces close contact with the vehicle. The distributor can fill a four-door car in just 36 seconds, providing two feet of deep-water coverage that cools and captures particulates.
The Rotary Distributor is the size of a softball, making it easy to carry (Fig 5). If needed, a high-heat hose can also be added to it. It can be left unstaffed and does not need to be secured. Set it and forget it. Place it in the hazard zone to protect the exposures and back away until the energy from the batteries is spent.
The application of water under the vehicle is limited. This option targets the most armoured part of the car. The underbelly is robust and designed to protect the battery from road debris.
We want to protect the rest of the car from burning, including car seats, carpets, computer screens, dashboards, and other internal furnishings. We also have to prevent concrete from weakening due to spalling caused by heat. We must eliminate direct flame impingement on the concrete ceiling above and other cars. The history of ICE vehicle fires has shown us the need to protect the neighbouring cars to prevent the domino effect.
Unfortunately, runoff from toxic chemicals is a byproduct of all car fires. Allowing water to flow can help dilute this. As the car burns, toxic chemicals and gases become airborne and fill the underground, quickly expanding the scene’s complexity.
Smoke is highly toxic; anything it touches needs decontamination, washing, or replacement. Water can help ground these toxic airborne particulates. Firefighters have respiratory protection, but the occupants do not. Smoke control is paramount.
The rotary distributor can add the equivalent of a 55-gallon drum of water to the car every six seconds. Once the vehicle is full, we can reduce the water delivery rate to equal the amount of water leaking.
Underground parking lots are equipped with drains and water weight is dispersed over a large area before ending up in the lower level, where water weight is not an issue.
Chief Bresnan would be proud to see us using his invention for multiple new applications, including wind-impacted high-rise fires, exterior cladding and EV fire control.
Brent Brooks
My vision is to remain at the forefront of new technology and building design by educating myself and others. I aim to prevent incidents like the Grenfell Tower fire from occurring again. A firefighter’s role is to prepare for potential disasters and catastrophic failures.
We are the troubleshooters, and we must be proactive. Challenge yourself to become faster and safer for them. Keep an open mind and continue to investigate and research.
This is the second of a two-part article series by Brent Brooks. Part one, ‘Underground battles in modern cities’ was published in the February 2025 issue of Fire and Safety Journal Americas.
