Telsa explosion danger to firefighters

[98valk]

many small explosions and an inferno.

http://mashable.com/2016/11/04/fatal-tesla-crash-batteries-fires/#pi8sjfUP1aqN

[Hooter]

We have been very aware of these things for quite a while.  Basically, it's a back off and protect any exposures. Fire fighters first and make sure the public is out of the way.  Then anyone down wind 1000' needs to be made aware, with possible evacuation if the atmosphere is heavy. These cars pose nothing but a hazard in a fire but are equally dangerous during an extrication if the system is either shut down wrong or not at all. This to can kill a fire fighter. Electric cars are a pain in the ass to deal with.

[98valk]

We have been very aware of these things for quite a while.  Basically, it's a back off and protect any exposures. Fire fighters first and make sure the public is out of the way.  Then anyone down wind 1000' needs to be made aware, with possible evacuation if the atmosphere is heavy. These cars pose nothing but a hazard in a fire but are equally dangerous during an extrication if the system is either shut down wrong or not at all. This to can kill a fire fighter. Electric cars are a pain in the ass to deal with.

I also understand to save weight some cars are now using magnesium metal in some areas of the car. Also not fun especially at first the manufacturers didn't think to let the fire fighting community know about it.

[Hooter]

 Magnesium will burn and can't be put out with water.  It has to be smothered. Hit with water and it can violently explode or it can give off a spark show. Under the dash of today's Tupperware cars there is some magnesium.  Fun during car fires. No one took into account the hazards confronting first responders. We had to quickly educate ourselves about new hazards, and it's on going.

Never stand directly behind or in front of a car on fire. Bumpers are on hydraulic shocks and when exposed to excessive heat can blow off. After doing so they can bust your legs or worse. They can also blow only one shock and wrap around the side of a vehicle.

Batteries in today's cars are located in several places.  Where they normally are, in the fender well, under the back seat and in the trunk. Most electric car batteries are in the trunk.

[fudgie]

All vehicles pose a threat. From the old oil filled car bumpers to multi airbag cars.

[The emperor has no clothes]

All vehicles pose a threat. From the old oil filled car bumpers to multi airbag cars.

Oil filled car bumpers ? Never heard of that. What was the purpose ?

[Hooter]

They are built on shocks, this isn't the newest of cars, mostly those with real bumpers. You can tell by just looking at the car. They absorb shock in a slow impact accident. The newer cars are plastic foam filled that emit phosgene gas. Nasty gas, just like the rest of newer cars. Car fire smoke is nasty and can put you down.

With air bags if you have an accident and they don't deploy you dead end the battery and wait a minute before entering a vehicle to start patient care. Air bags that deploy late can hurt or even kill first responders or a patient.  That's our policy. Side curtain airbags are a pain in the ass.

[solo1]

I knew about lithium batteries. I worked with them in environmental testing.  Our lab windows were 1 inch thick special plastic and we had a high speed fan that exhausted to the outside in case of the release of sulfur dioxide gas if the batteries shorted.  Each battery pack in the sonobuoys that we tested was the equivalent to a pineapple hand grenade in its power if shorted.

I didn't know about the other hazards in car accidents, Thanks.  I see one, I'll let the firemen handle it.

The old VW Beetles had engine and transmission cases made of magnesium.  We set a broken tranny case on fire deliberately.  The burn barrel melted and it looked like an arc welder, blue flame and intense heat.