Representative Titus
Serving the First Congressional District of Nevada for more than a decade, Representative Dina Titus is the dean of Nevada’s delegation.
Congresswoman Titus has introduced new legislation to reduce harmful fires caused by thermal runaway events – a dangerous chain reaction in lithium-ion battery cells that can lead to severe fires, explosion hazards, and the release of toxic gases.
Read on to learn more about the events surrounding the Thermal Runaway Reduction Act and the rules that will transform how we approach battery safety going forward.
July 26, 2024
A Wake-Up Call for Lithium-ion Battery Safety
In July, a truck carrying a shipment of lithium batteries to a solar farm in Wisconsin caught fire on I-15, leading to a complete shutdown of the freeway for days. The blaze was the first of its kind in the nation, according to CalTrans, which led to an unprecedented response for the removal of hazardous materials.
Following the incident, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stressed the need for increased training for first responders to better address battery fires and the unique risks posed by lithium-ion cells during transport.
“Anytime that you have hazardous material moving, it’s important for first responders to have the training equipment needed to respond to that,” said Buttigieg.
As a result, the Nevada Department of Transportation and CalTrans met last month to discuss improving their response efforts. “The disaster on Interstate 15 was a wake-up call that we need to do more to protect the public from dangerous fires,” Titus said.
August 19, 2024
Lithium-ion Battery Fires Spark Urgent Action
In August, a Tesla semi-truck crashed on Interstate 80 in Northern California en route to the company’s Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada. The truck collided with a steel post, followed by a tree, causing the vehicle’s battery system to ignite.
Firefighters in California deployed 50,000 gallons of plain water to extinguish the blaze. This was recorded in the National Transportation Safety Board’s incident report.
The fire shut down I-80 for more than 12 hours, with officials taking extra precautions to ensure the batteries could reach a safe enough temperature for recovery operations to begin. The fire highlighted the potential hazards and dangers of these high energy-density battery types when subjected to physical damage or extreme temperatures.
September 17, 2024
Li-Ion Batteries Fuel Another Highway Blaze
A fiery blaze erupted outside Las Vegas, Nevada just after midnight. The collision occurred near U.S. Highway 95 and Mile Marker 13 in Nye County. According to authorities, two semi-trucks were involved in the crash. One semi was hauling 31,000 pounds of lithium-ion batteries sectioned onto 7 pallets—the other trailer contained lumber, adding fuel to the flames.
The incident marks the third of thermal runaway incidents involving lithium-ion battery packs to disrupt traffic surrounding Nevada.
Rapid Extinguishment
F-500 EA: A Proven Solution for Lithium-ion Battery Fires
Nye County Fire Services extinguished the electric fire with about 5,500 gallons of an F-500 EA® solution by 2 AM. This was achieved just two hours after the initial spark, effectively interrupting the cell-to-cell propagation of heat that fuels thermal runaway.
In August, fire departments in Nye County had the opportunity to obtain innovative firefighting equipment and in service training thanks to grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Management (EM) Nevada Program. The grant supplied F-500 EA® and two Fast Response Trailers to each station, ensuring first responders were well-prepared for emergencies involving lithium-ion batteries.
Patrick Lazenby with Nye County Emergency Management Administration reached out to our regional representative in Nevada, Earl Johnson, owner of Southwest Hazard Protection, to describe their experience. “We had our first deployment of the F-500 EA® trailers last night! Absolutely worked as advertised!”
There were no fatalities reported and both drivers involved suffered minor injuries, police said.
The aftermath of the crash resulted in continued closures on parts of U.S. Highway 95 that morning. Trained cleanup crews were brought in to assess the damage and safely remove debris without reigniting the hazardous runoff from the burned lithium-ion cells.
Targeted Legislation
Last week, Nevada representative Dina Titus introduced the Thermal Runaway Reduction Act. This is the beginning of new legislation aimed at improving the health and safety of Nevada’s residents and roadways as the transportation of lithium-ion batteries, energy storage systems, and electric vehicles reaches new highs.
“An accident involving these batteries in highly populated urban areas could have tragic consequences,” Titus said in a statement.
New Requirements
The Thermal Runaway Reduction Act focuses on reducing the potential for thermal runaway events during the transportation of these rechargeable batteries.
It intends to achieve this by doing the following:
- Requiring impact testing for lithium-ion batteries that accounts for forces experienced in transportation accidents; and
- Requiring the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to issue regulations that set a maximum state of charge of 30% for lithium-ion batteries for ground transportation, similar to what is required for air transportation.
Prioritizing Safety with F-500 EA
The hazards associated with a lithium-ion battery fire are varied and extend far beyond flammability. F-500 EA® works to extinguish battery fires on three distinct levels: flammability, explosivity, and toxicity. This extensive approach to lithium-ion battery suppression prioritizes the health and safety of first responders, motorists, and their communities.
Many burning lithium-ion batteries create dangerous chemical reactions that release explosive, flammable, and toxic gases, making it a necessity for firefighters to exercise caution and utilize personal protective equipment.
Minimizing Runoff
Another factor to consider is the runoff generated from a roadside incident involving lithium-ion batteries. As batteries burn, they can leach a multitude of heavy metals and other harmful materials into the water used for extinguishment. Deploying copious amounts of water not only depletes local resources but also creates a hazardous environmental impact.
F-500 EA® has shown success in not only significantly limiting the amount of water required to extinguish a fire involving lithium-ion batteries, but also decreasing the concentration of hazardous substances present in runoff.
Partner with HCT for Advanced Fire Suppression Solutions
At Hazard Control Technologies, we bring decades of expertise to the forefront of fire suppression and environmental protection. We are a trusted provider of innovative solutions for mitigating the risks associated with lithium-ion battery fires and thermal runaway events, and our ISO 9001 certification ensures that every product and service we deliver meets rigorous quality and safety standards.
With industry-leading agents like F-500 EA®, advanced firefighting equipment, and tailored training programs, we equip first responders with the resources necessary to handle today’s fire hazards.
Contact Hazard Control Technologies today to learn how our solutions can help you prioritize safety, protect your community, and respond effectively to hazardous incidents.
