Quick and Efficient Method of Extinguishing of an EV Thermal Runaway Fire

Revolutionary Cutting Extinguisher Method Transforms Electric Vehicle Fire Response, Shows Promise for BESS Applications

April 18, 2025

A groundbreaking firefighting technique using ultra-high pressure cutting extinguishers is revolutionizing how first responders tackle electric vehicle (EV) battery fires, with promising implications for large Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) fire response.

Game-Changing Approach

This innovative method, tested extensively in Sweden by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) in 2022-2023 in cooperation with CTIF Sweden, uses an ultra-high pressure cutting extinguisher lance to penetrate the battery casing and deliver fine water mist directly to the cells, quickly halting thermal runaway propagation.

The method requires proper training, approved tools, and the application of a Thermal Imaging Camera for accurate risk and fire assessment. Once hotspots are identified, a trained operator applies the cutting extinguishing lance to create a small hole in the battery casing, allowing high-pressure mist to reach the internal cells.

Real-World Success

A recent incident in Tempe, Arizona demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach in June 2024. Despite initial challenges, firefighters controlled an EV battery fire in less than an hour using approximately 200 gallons (750 liters) of water. When a re-ignition occurred, they extinguished it in just two minutes with about 20 gallons of water.

Fire Chief Miguel Rodriguez of Tempe Fire & Rescue notes, "This technology represents a paradigm shift in our approach to EV fires. With refinement of our techniques, we anticipate bringing these incidents under control in under 20 minutes."

Traditional Methods vs. New Approach

Traditional EV firefighting methods have proven resource-intensive and time-consuming, often requiring "thousands of gallons" of water and "several hours" to extinguish, with the risk of reignition even after being towed. The new cutting lance method dramatically reduces both water usage and response time.

In controlled tests, the combined use of the Cobra cutting extinguisher and traditional firefighting methods consumed only about 750 liters (200 gallons) of water in total. This represents a fraction of the water typically used in conventional approaches.

Environmental Benefits

The environmental advantages are substantial. Since runoff water from EV fires contains many toxic compounds, the minimal water use is better for the environment. Traditional methods that use thousands of gallons create significant contaminated runoff that must be contained and properly disposed of.

Implications for BESS Fires

This technology could be transformative for tackling fires in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), which present unique challenges for firefighters.

Recent incidents have demonstrated how sizable BESS fires can be, how difficult they are to extinguish, and how dangerous they can be to first responders. A notable incident at Arizona Public Service's BESS facility in Surprise, Arizona resulted in an explosion that injured four firefighters when they opened doors to a smoking container.

Traditional methods like clean agents and sprinkler systems have proven ineffective for BESS incidents. Clean agents may fail to stop thermal runaway, while the confined nature of battery cells prevents water from reaching heated areas in conventional sprinkler systems.

Expert Perspectives

Dr. Emma Larsson, battery safety researcher at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, explains, "The critical innovation here is delivering cooling agent directly to the cells in thermal runaway. Containing these reactions from the outside is nearly impossible, but internal cooling with minimal water can rapidly halt the chain reaction."

BESS safety specialist Thomas Weaver adds, "While BESS configurations present additional challenges due to their scale and containment, the principles behind this cutting technology could be adapted for larger installations. The key is gaining access to deliver cooling agents directly to affected cells."

Future Applications

Fire safety experts are now examining how to adapt this technology for larger BESS installations, where the dense packing of batteries and confined spaces create particular challenges.

Current BESS fire suppression methods include cooling agents, aerosol fire suppression systems, and gas-based fire suppression agents, but these solutions don't address the fundamental challenge of accessing the cells in thermal runaway.

The cutting extinguisher approach potentially bridges this gap by providing direct access to battery cells. Industry leaders anticipate modified versions of the technology specifically designed for BESS applications within the next year.

Training Imperative

Experts emphasize that to practice this method safely, first responders must receive both theoretical and practical training from qualified instructors and use only approved tools. Training programs are now being developed in fire departments across North America and Europe.

As renewable energy adoption accelerates and both EVs and BESS installations become more common, these innovative firefighting methods will be crucial for ensuring public safety and protecting critical infrastructure.

---

Sources:

1. CTIF - International Association of Fire Services for Safer Citizens through Skilled Firefighters. "Quick and Efficient Method of Extinguishing of an EV Fire tested in Tempe, Arizona." https://www.ctif.org/news/new-european-research-shows-cutting-extinguisher-can-safely-put-out-ev-battery-fires-10-minutes

2. CTIF. "New cutting extinguisher method for EV fires performed successfully in real vehicle fires." https://www.ctif.org/news/new-cutting-extinguisher-method-ev-fires-performed-successfully-real-vehicle-fires

3. CTIF. "New revolutionary method tested extinguishes lithium-Ion EV fires in ten minutes with minimal water use." https://ctif.org/news/new-revolutionary-method-extinguishes-lithium-ion-ev-fires-ten-minutes-minimal-water

4. EVFireSafe. "EV battery fire suppression." https://www.evfiresafe.com/ev-fire-suppression-methods

5. CTIF. "See Swedish lithium-ion battery expert Per-Ola Malmqvist explain how to safely extinguish EV-fires with minimal water." https://ctif.org/news/see-swedish-lithium-ion-battery-expert-ola-malmqvist-explain-how-safely-extinguish-ev-fires

6. FireRescue1. "How to extinguish an electric vehicle fire." https://www.firerescue1.com/electric-vehicles/articles/electric-vehicle-fires-where-the-waiting-game-wins-f934UedqIpVqc1k2/

7. Stat-X. "Fire Suppression in Battery Energy Storage Systems." https://www.statx.com/whitepaper/fire-suppression-battery-energy-storage-systems/

8. Cease Fire. "How to Protect Against Fires in Battery Energy Storage Systems." https://ceasefire.com/firesuppression/article/how-to-protect-against-fires-in-battery-energy-storage-systems

9. Rosenbauer. "RFC Battery extinguishing system." https://www.rosenbauer.com/en/us/rosenbauer-world/products/fire-fighting-systems/battery-fire-challenge/rfc-battery-extinguishing-system

Quick and Efficient Method of Extinguishing of an EV Fire tested in Tempe, Arizona - YouTube

This method was tested in Sweden by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB.se) in 2022-2023, in close cooperation with CTIF Sweden. 

More about these tests here: https://www.ctif.org/news/new-europea... 

Lessons Learned from a use case in Tempe, Arizona where an UHP cutting extinguishing lance was able to extinguish an EV fire with minimal water use. The method used in the video featured in this article involves the use of an ultra high pressure cutting extinguisher to stop propagation inside the battery using fine water mist. 

To practice the method described in this video, it is vital to first receive theoretical and practical training from a qualified instructor. It is also imperative to use approved tools only. While using this method, the application of a Thermal Imaging Camera is necessary for a good risk and fire assessment. 

The TIC is used to determine the hotspots of the fire and if any of the battery cells are involved. A trained operator can then apply the cutting extinguishing lance to penetrate the outer casing of the battery, creating a small hole through which the cells inside are filled with a high pressure mist of fine water droplets. This can help quickly stop the propagation inside the battery. 

Tests of the method and several use cases have confirmed the method can help get the fire under control in a short time with minimal water use. Since the runoff water contains many toxic compounds, the low use of water can also be better for the environment. This method has been gaining ground in Europe for some years, and recently now also in the United States. The video below shows a successful use case from the US. 

This lessons learned video documents an incident from from the US city of Tempe, Arizona, where a trained team used a cutting extinguisher system on an EV fire for the first time after their initial training. In this incident from June 5, 2024, a call came in about an EV in the initial stages of fire. The battery pack was smoking and it was determined the battery was involved. Command on the scene decided to use the method they had recently received training for, and deployed a team of a lance operator and a spotter, who helped direct the operation. 

With some initial issues, they had the EV- fire under control in less an hour with approximately 200 gallons / (750 litres) of water. With the lessons learned from the incident, Tempe Fire & Rescue hopes to push the time from applying the lance to the fire being under control in less than 20 minutes. There was a re-ignition after the initial operation; however the team was able to reapply water mist and was able to extinguish the re-ignition without further incidents in two minutes and with about 20 gallons of water. 

 This video was produced with support from Cold Cut Systems for the purposes of spreading awareness of this method. The drone footage used as illustrations in this video was from a live burn exercise in Alabama, by North Shelby Fire in early 2025. Drone videography by Joey Jones, North Shelby Fire. As reported previously on CTIF.org, his method was tested in Sweden by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB.se) in 2022-2023, in close cooperation with CTIF Sweden. 

 As a stakeholder in the project, CTIF's Associate Member Cobra Cold Cut Systems provided their Cobra Ultra High pressure lance. Also tested was the Murer extinguishing lance. Both tools extinguish fires from a safe distance through the use of a water mist which can penetrate battery casings and other hard surfaces.\ A report from tests made public by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) shows that a cutting extinguisher can safely put out a battery fire in a very short time, with minimal use of water and without the risk of re-ignition. 

Read more and download the report: https://www.ctif.org/news/new-europea... The report is based on the results on a number of tests carried out in a collaborative project involving several stakeholders, including the CTIF Commission for Extrication and New Technology, and CTIF Sweden, where Tore Eriksson, Tom van Esbroeck & Michel Gentilleau have been part of the reference group. CTIF ´s Yvonne Näsman and Per-Ola Malmquist have been project members on behalf of MSB.se. 

The tests were designed to examine whether injecting water into a Li-ion battery that had gone into a state of thermal runaway could effectively suppress and extinguish the fire without reignition. Several different kinds of equipment was tested, including fog nails, pick axes, traditional nozzles and various penetrating extinguishers (which use water mist to cut holes through the protective shell of the battery). Please note, that for safety reasons, the use of fog nails or pickaxes (to break the battery shell before water was applied) is not recommended in the report.

Electric Vehicle Firefighting: An Account from Firefighter in Tempe, Arizona

This segment presents a firsthand account from a firefighter involved in an EV fire incident in Tempe, Arizona, a situation that highlighted the evolving challenges of electric vehicle fires. The firefighter details the common struggles, specifically the difficulties with reignition, high water usage, and the creation of toxic smoke, which can persist for hours. This specific incident highlights the need for adaptation in modern firefighting, driven by technological advancements like EVs.

• Traditional methods, using large amounts of water, often proved insufficient, with fires taking "thousands of gallons" and "several hours" to extinguish, sometimes leading to reignition even after being moved to a tow yard. Furthermore, the method of containing vehicles in Conex boxes filled with water and sand did not fully resolve the issue, highlighting the complex nature of battery fires and the ineffectiveness of outdated techniques.
• A new method, involving a high-pressure cutting lance to inject water mist directly into the battery cells, offers a significant advancement. As the firefighter stated, "we probably only flowed maybe 120, maybe 120 gallons if that probably all in all time from working the lance to getting the fire out all together." This contrasts sharply with the "thousands of gallons" needed for traditional methods. The new method allowed for quicker handling of the situation, potentially in under 20 minutes if initial hurdles are overcome, greatly improving firefighter safety.
• Practical takeaway: By learning to use a high-pressure cutting lance, departments can greatly improve firefighter safety and lower the amount of water used to control an EV fire. Training on the thermal imaging cameras in coordination with proper lancet deployment and an understanding of the vehicle's battery compartment are crucial to its effectiveness. The incident highlighted that a specialized EV-handling tow company is critical in avoiding any reignition, ensuring vehicles are handled safely and securely post-fire.