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Putting out an industrial Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) fire is a complex and challenging task for firefighters due to the unique nature of lithium-ion battery fires. These systems, often used to store renewable energy or stabilize power grids, can ignite due to thermal runaway—a chain reaction where a battery cell overheats, releasing flammable gases and potentially causing adjacent cells to fail.

Here’s how firefighters typically approach such a fire involving Lithium Batteries in a BESS installation:

  1. Initial Assessment and
    Safety Precautions

    Risk Evaluation:
    Firefighters first assess the scope of the fire, the size of the BESS (which can range from small units to massive warehouse-sized installations), and potential hazards like toxic gas emissions (e.g., hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide).

    Evacuation and Perimeter:
    A wide safety perimeter is established because BESS fires can release explosive gases and toxic fumes. Nearby personnel and residents may be evacuated.

    Protective Gear:
    Firefighters use specialized personal protective equipment (PPE), including self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs), to shield against hazardous vapours.

  2. Cooling the System (Primary Strategy)

    Water Application:
    The main tactic is to douse the fire with large volumes of water to cool the battery modules and halt thermal runaway. Industrial BESS fires often require thousands of gallons of water, sometimes applied continuously for hours or even days.

    Why Water?:
    While water doesn’t extinguish the chemical reaction inside the cells, it absorbs heat, preventing the fire from spreading to unaffected cells or nearby structures.

    Delivery Methods:
    Fire hoses, aerial water drops (if accessible), or fixed suppression systems (if installed) are used. Firefighters may target specific hotspots identified via thermal imaging.

    Challenges:
    Water can react with lithium compounds, producing flammable hydrogen gas, so the focus is on cooling rather than direct extinguishment.

  1. Containment Over Extinguishment

    Let It Burn Out:
    Unlike traditional fires, BESS fires can’t always be fully extinguished because the batteries generate their own oxygen and fuel through decomposition. Firefighters often prioritize containment—preventing the fire from spreading—while allowing the chemical reaction to burn itself out.

    Barriers:
    Sand, dirt, or fire-resistant blankets may be used to isolate the fire and limit its spread.

An Ai generated image of volunteer firefighters at the scene of a lithium ion BESS system fire.

  1. Suppressing Toxic Gases
    and Explosions

    Ventilation Control:
    If the BESS is in an enclosed space (e.g., a shipping container or building), firefighters may ventilate the area cautiously to release flammable gases, reducing the risk of explosions. However, this must balance public exposure to toxic fumes.

    Explosion Mitigation:
    Firefighters monitor for signs of pressure buildup (e.g., bulging containers) and may use standoff distances to avoid blast zones.

  2. Specialized Agents (When Available)

    Dry Chemicals or Foam:
    In some cases, firefighters use dry chemical extinguishers (e.g., ABC powder) or firefighting foam (e.g., F-500 or aqueous film-forming foam) to suppress flames on the surface. However, these are less effective against deep-seated thermal runaway.

    Advanced Systems:
    Some modern BESS installations have built-in fire suppression systems (e.g., CO2, aerosol agents) that firefighters can activate or support, though these are often insufficient for large-scale incidents.

  3. Post-Fire Management

    Monitoring:
    Even after visible flames are gone, the batteries can reignite due to residual heat. Firefighters use thermal cameras to monitor for hotspots and may leave crews on-site for hours or days.

    Environmental Concerns:
    Runoff water contaminated with battery chemicals (e.g., heavy metals, electrolytes) must be contained to prevent soil and water pollution, often requiring hazmat teams.

    Disposal:
    Damaged battery modules are carefully removed by specialists, as they remain hazardous.

    Real-World Example
    In a 2021 Tesla Megapack fire in Australia, firefighters used approximately 150,000 liters (40,000 gallons) of water over several hours to control the blaze. They focused on cooling adjacent units to prevent propagation, while allowing the affected unit to burn out, all while managing toxic smoke plumes.

Key Difficulties

Scale:
Industrial BESS units can contain thousands of cells, amplifying the energy release.

Toxicity:
Fumes pose immediate health risks and complicate operations.

Duration:
These fires can last hours or days, taxing resources.

 

In summary, firefighters tackling an industrial BESS fire rely heavily on water to cool the system, prioritize containment over extinguishment, and take extensive safety measures due to the fire’s chemical nature. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, requiring coordination with hazmat and environmental teams to manage the aftermath.

And yet, volunteer firefighters believe they are equipped to manage and put out an industrial BESS fire in a rural area where our water trucks only carry a 1000 litres of water.

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helpus@savesdg.com or contact our Press Officer.

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