How lithium-ion battery fires differ from standard fires [Video]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When a truck carrying lithium-ion batteries caught fire in Franklinton on Thursday morning, the Columbus Fire Department was ready.

“Last year we had an outside company come in and get us up to speed on some of the hazards and the challenges you are gonna face in these fires,” said Battalion Chief Jeffrey Geitter.

A lithium-ion battery fire requires a specific approach and cannot be put out with just water.

“You can use water but nowhere near the water that we carry. We can put out a regular bedroom fire with, I would say, 750 gallons of water. That is kind of what our trucks carry. You are talking in the area of 15,000 gallons of water needed to extinguish an EV battery in a car,” he said.

The strategy is to isolate the fire and let the burn run out.

“The policy for us is continue to learn …