Local responders prepare for new hazards

Last Updated on October 14, 2023 by Cass County Emergency Management Agency

Lithium Ion Batteries are used in a variety of applications. These range from small applications, such as cell phone or remote-control batteries, to larger applications such as vehicles and home power walls. In addition to these “in use” packages, a facility will soon be opening across the Cass County line which mass produces these batteries. When they operate normally, they are an accepted part of daily life.

When batteries are damaged, break down over time, or enter a process known as “thermal runaway” they pose unique hazards for emergency responders. These hazards include higher than normal burning temperatures, highly flammable gasses given off during decomposition, and the tendency to reenter thermal runaway hours or sometimes days after fires had been extinguished. When these events occur inside homes, such as an electric vehicle inside a garage or a hoverboard inside a bedroom, it further complicates emergency response. Burning batteries and other debris can be launched a significant distance across a room or open area and start secondary fires. In some cases explosion hazards can be generated.

Responders from 23 different agencies came to Logansport to learn from nationally recognized speakers strategies to use to safely mitigate these incidents. Two offerings of the training were held, one Friday evening and one Saturday morning. 

Topics covered included the dangers associated with various applications, as well as special equipment needed for certain situations. As an example, when an electric vehicle catches on fire the traditional approach of simply spraying water on it doesn’t work. The way the battery packs are built, and where they are located makes it very difficult for water to get to the problem area. Additionally, these fires burn much hotter than normal car fires requiring significantly more gallons per minute to overcome the British Thermal Units (BTUs) of heat given off. Even after extinguished a battery cell can reignite hours or days later and start the process again.

To answer this hazard, special equipment is needed. During the training the Emergency Management Agency exhibited a specialized tarp they have added to the county HAZMAT Response trailer. This is specifically designed to contain fire from burning electric vehicles. They also exhibited containment drums they have purchased for lithium ion batteries, which keep restarted reactions contained if they do “fire off” again after the initial emergency response.

Rocky Buffum, Director of Cass County Emergency Management, credited Logansport Fire Chief Rick Bair with suggesting the training. “Chief Bair, as part of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, expressed interest in bringing this training in for local responders. The EMA Staff had previously attended training at a state conference and were familiar with some vendors that specialized in this area, and had already began purchasing equipment. EMA put the grant request together, got approval, and Logansport Fire Department provided the location. The long list of participating agencies shows there is concern across the area about this new challenge and how to deal with it.”

Training was conducted by Noble and hosted at the Logansport Fire Department. The bulk of the funding, $5,000.00, was provided through a Public Safety Training and Education Grant from NIPSCO. The remainder of funding was provided by the Emergency Management Agency using revenue generated from HAZMAT Response billing. 

Now more local personnel are trained on the hazards and possible solutions, Emergency Management anticipates a planning meeting with other public safety agencies focusing specifically on Cass County’s strategy to prepare including acquisition of more equipment and procedures for how that equipment is requested and used.

Participating agencies included:

Buffalo-Liberty Township Fire Department

Cass County Emergency Management Agency

Cass County Emergency Medical Services

Cass County Fire District 1

Center Township Fire Department (LaPorte)

Clinton Township Fire Department

Frankfort Fire Department

Galveston Fire Department

Georgetown Fire Department

Greentown Fire Department

Harrison Township Fire Department (Lucurne)

Henry Township Fire Department

Kewanna Fire Department

Logansport Fire Department

Logansport Memorial Hospital

New Waverly Fire Department

Peru Fire Department

Pulaski County Emergency Management Agency

Royal Center Fire Department

Tippecanoe Township Fire Department

Twelve Mile Community Fire Department

Walton Community Fire Department 

Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory