EV fires have become one of the most widely discussed topics in fire safety in recent years. Not because electric vehicles catch fire more often than internal combustion engine vehicles, but because when a fire does occur, its behavior, risks, and consequences are fundamentally different. Electromobility is transforming transport, infrastructure, and energy systems – and in the same way, it is changing how we must approach fire prevention and fire response. This article is the first part of a three-part series focused on these changes. The series gradually examines how EV fires differ from traditional vehicle fires, what practical challenges they create during emergency response, and why they require a different way of thinking from operators, facility managers, and emergency services.
In this first part, we look at the basic context – why electric vehicle fires are specific, why they are being discussed more frequently, and what role first-response measures play in the initial phase of an incident.
Why are electric vehicle fires different from fires in internal combustion vehicles?
The fundamental difference lies in the energy source.
While fuel is the primary fire risk in conventional vehicles, electric vehicles rely on a lithium-ion traction battery – a technologically advanced but also highly energy-dense system.
If the battery is damaged, short-circuited, or overheated, a phenomenon known as thermal runaway can occur. This is a chain reaction in which individual battery cells overheat uncontrollably, release flammable gases, and may ignite sequentially.
From a fire response perspective, this leads to several critical differences compared to conventional vehicle fires:
the fire does not originate in a single location but can spread within the battery module
the fire can last significantly longer and is difficult to fully extinguish
even after visible flames are suppressed, there is a risk of re-ignition
the battery remains extremely hot for a prolonged period after the incident
The flames visible on the outside are often only a secondary effect. The actual problem typically occurs out of sight – inside the battery, where access to the source of the fire is severely limited.
Why are EV fires suddenly being discussed so much?
The discussion around EV fires is not related only to the vehicles themselves, but mainly to the environments in which electric vehicles are now commonly found.
Electric vehicles are routinely parked and charged in locations that were not historically designed with this type of risk in mind, such as:
underground and multi-storey parking garages
residential and office buildings
logistics and industrial facilities
In these environments, the issue is no longer limited to a single vehicle. An EV fire can result in:
Rapid threat to surrounding vehicles and structural elements
Release of toxic and irritating gases
Long-term shutdown of operations or entire facilities
Evacuation of a large number of people
This is why EV fire safety has moved to the forefront for:
building owners and facility managers
parking operators
insurance companies
safety and risk managers
fire and rescue services
This is not about panic, but about a realistic response to a new technology that requires new procedures and a different approach to risk.
Fire Isolator fire blanket as a first response
In the initial phase of an EV fire, the primary objective of the response is to quickly stabilize the situation and prevent escalation. One of the tools commonly used in practice for this purpose is a fire blanket specifically designed for electric vehicles, such as the Fire Isolator fire blanket.
Its use is based on a simple principle:
to isolate the burning vehicle from its surroundings and reduce the impact of open flames on the environment in which the incident occurs.
In practice, a fire blanket can help mainly by:
suppressing visible flames and radiant heat
reducing the risk of fire spread to nearby vehicles or structures
enabling safer access to the incident site
stabilizing the situation in environments where space or response time is limited
For these reasons, fire blankets are often regarded as a practical first step in EV fire incidents, particularly in enclosed spaces or locations with a high concentration of assets and people.
At the same time, it must be noted that the effectiveness of a fire blanket primarily concerns the external manifestations of the fire. Processes occurring inside the traction battery may continue even after the flames have been suppressed and the vehicle appears externally stabilized.
EV fires therefore cannot be treated as a one-time event that ends when flames are no longer visible. After the vehicle has been covered and the initial phase of the response has been completed, open questions remain regarding battery temperature, the risk of re-ignition, and the safety of further handling of the vehicle.
These less visible challenges that arise after the suppression of flames will be addressed in the second part of this series.
