Jeonnam Fire Department, Special Training to Enhance Electric Vehicle Fire Response Skills

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Fire Headquarters (Chief Kim Joil) announced on the 19th that it recently conducted specialized training to improve electric vehicle fire response capabilities for about 170 employees from 20 fire stations in the province.

With over 250,000 electric vehicles registered nationwide, demand for eco-friendly cars is increasing. Accordingly, electric vehicle fires are also on the rise.

On the 4th, a fire broke out in an electric vehicle on the Busan Namhae Expressway, resulting in two deaths, and earlier, in October last year, a fire occurred in an electric vehicle charging in the underground parking lot of an apartment in Yeosu City.

The training held at Jeonnam Fire School was conducted by inviting experts such as professors from electric vehicle-related departments and representatives from automobile manufacturers.

The program provided opportunities to understand the structure and characteristics of electric vehicles, check cells through battery disassembly, and observe thermal runaway phenomena through real electric vehicle fire experiments.

Electric vehicle fires differ from general internal combustion engine vehicle fires in that when thermal runaway occurs in the battery, they cannot be extinguished by conventional methods.

On-site focused training was conducted on the use of the latest equipment and suppression methods for electric vehicle fires, including vehicle fire-specific nozzles, smothering fire extinguishers, and fire suppression water tanks.

Seo Seungho, head of Jeonnam Fire School, said, “Demand for eco-friendly vehicles such as electric cars, hydrogen cars, and hybrid cars is increasing recently,” and added, “We will enhance the confidence and expertise of our personnel on-site through customized training reflecting the characteristics of each vehicle type and manufacturer.”