The City of Mountain View Fire Department in California is updating its firefighting arsenal with the introduction of a new technology aimed at combating electric vehicle battery fires. The state-of-the-art Battery Extinguishing System Technology (BEST), as per a department announcement, offers a specialized response to the unique challenge posed by lithium-ion battery blazes.
In an age where electric vehicles (EVs) are surging in popularity, MVFD's adoption of BEST is a noteworthy step for Santa Clara County's emergency services. The technology reduces on-scene time for firefighters, allowing them to douse battery fires efficiently and more safely from a distance. BEST deploys a piercing stinger water nozzle that punctures the battery housing, enabling water at a rate of eight gallons per minute to cool down the fire, "in as little as two minutes after arriving on the scene," as stated in the official press release.
Historically, extinguishing EV battery fires has been a water-intensive and time-consuming endeavor, often entailing the "surround and drown" method that could require up to 8,000 gallons of water over several hours. BEST, however, can suppress such fires with a significantly lesser amount, roughly 500 gallons of water, within about an hour. This represents a considerable advancement in terms of resource conservation and operational efficiency for fire departments tackling the increasing number of EV incidents.
The equipment has been integrated into the department's Hazmat Unit and is available to assist other fire departments through mutual aid, if necessary. When in use, the BEST system is linked to a water hose from the fire engine and powered by air from a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus bottle. Once positioned, its stinger pierces the vehicle's skin to allow water injection directly into the vehicle's battery area, according to the MVFD's description.
