Electric car ignited and needs 3 hours and more than 41,000 liters of water to extinguish fire

Wareham Fire Department reported that a 2020 Chevy Bolt electric car, which caught fire due to a recalled battery, was finally extinguished after more than three hours and the use of over 11,000 gallons of water. The incident took place on the morning of August 5 and was confirmed by the Wareham Fire Department.

General Motors had issued a recall in 2021 for all Chevrolet Bolt EVs and EUVs due to battery defects that had led to a series of car fires.

According to Wareham Fire Chief John Kelley, the car’s owner acknowledged their vehicle’s involvement in the recall, but due to difficulties in securing an appointment and obtaining necessary parts, they were unable to replace the battery.

The initial response from Wareham Fire occurred around 4:15 a.m. near a residence in Great Hill Estates. The electric car was parked in a driveway and posed several exposure challenges.

Because the vehicle had been charged, the fire was categorized as “spontaneous” by firefighting authorities. Thankfully, no injuries were reported at the scene.

Wareham Fire Chief Kelley emphasized the potential dangers of electric car fires, particularly if the vehicle had been parked in a garage. He highlighted that the department had undergone specialized training for these incidents and had recently received nozzles designed specifically for electric vehicle fires.

The firefighting approach involves cooling the battery with water instead of foam, using a specialized nozzle positioned beneath the car, similar to a sprinkler system. Crews, aided by Wareham Police Department and Wareham Emergency Services Local 2895, managed to suppress the initial blaze and continued to dampen the car.

Approximately 30 minutes later, the fire rekindled, prompting firefighters to work for several additional hours until the fire was completely extinguished.