In the event of a battery fire, what is the fastest, easiest way to drag the truck out of the garage?

[hajalie24]

Quick question for you - I think most garages do not have detectors installed (mine doesn't). I think I read somewhere that in a garage, a heat detector is a better choice than a smoke detector. True?

When I got batteries they had to bring everything to code in my garage, they put a heat detector in, with xsense wireless interconnected smoke detectors inside the house. The electricians said a smoke detector would trip more often just because of how hot a garage can get.

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[daveross1212]

Thanks for the answers on the detectors - time for some upgrades!

 

[irunalot]

Do we have gears and neutral? What happens in neutral?

The parking brake is a physical party pooper.

What is it that prevents the car from rolling in park? It doesn’t roll, so I assume there is some “bolt” like thing in the motor?

There’s a park pawl inside the rear motor. It works just like a regular transmission in that it physically prevents movement

 

[Shmoe]

I'm not a fire fighter, and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I did take a senior level data analysis and statistics class to get out of meteorology school. I think the myth that "ICE vehicles catch fire more often than EVs" is a textbook example of scale. Yes, there ARE more ICE vehicle fires. But that's because there are millions upon millions upon millions of ICE vehicles in the United States, and the number of EVs is a tiny fraction of a fraction of that number.

The issue is that when an EV catches fire, they go up quickly and they burn MUCH hotter and they are nearly impossible to extinguish. You may be successful in putting out an ICE vehicle fire with fire extinguishers or garden hoses. With an EV that's on fire....not happening. Period.

This thread is interesting because it's a fear I do have. My attached garage has a bedroom above it, and one of my step-sons sleeps up there.

The advice throughout this thread is good advice: EVACUATE FAST and then call 911.....and keep your insurance paid up.

You do understand we have the ability to normalize the data and accommodate for the disparities of various numbers so the information is relevant, right?


In simple terms, we can account for the fact that there are more ICE cars and the data still shows they are far more likely to flame up.

 

[pullinggs]

Dear @dmd3home,

You've gotten a lot of interesting responses. Here's mine. It's much more useful than a smoke detector or a carport and, added bonus, you can terrify your neighbors with it. (Uh, seriously... I also vote for running away while dialing 911.)

 

[WXman]

When I got batteries they had to bring everything to code in my garage, they put a heat detector in, with xsense wireless interconnected smoke detectors inside the house. The electricians said a smoke detector would trip more often just because of how hot a garage can get.

Our house was new construction 7 years ago. They installed a traditional smoke detector in the garage. On more than one occasion we would get false alarms which of course happened in the middle of the night and scared us all to death and it wasn't because of heat but rather insects. Apparently insects would fly into the smoke detector and the flapping of their wings would set it off. I tried various ways to prevent insects from getting inside the detector but have not been successful so far. Maybe I need to try one of these heat detectors instead.

 

[irunalot]

You do understand we have the ability to normalize the data and accommodate for the disparities of various numbers so the information is relevant, right?


In simple terms, we can account for the fact that there are more ICE cars and the data still shows they are far more likely to flame up.

In my emergency response course on EV fires, the fire chief explained that ICE fires were far more prevalent vs. EV fires when the data was normalized. I know someone will likely disagree but FWIW, here’s a quick google search that substantiates that claim.

https://www.evengineeringonline.com...25/01/Screenshot-2025-01-28-at-2.43.37 PM.png

 

[dmd3home]

Well I'm quite impressed with all the responses!
I guess being retired for 20 years gives me time to think about too many different scenarios so this was one that came up......a "what if".....and then thoughts.

For the record, I'm not really afraid of an EV fire in my garage....in fact, I have 3 EVs in my 3 car garage and the Lightning in my detached shop all charged in their respective locations. I got my first EV 12 years ago and have never looked back! And yes, the same fire concerns exist for ICE vehicles (though when they happen they're usually easier to deal with).

And, as I said, certainly the priority is to evacuate and call 911, but realistically how could you not then assess the situation and think about saving your house? Getting the vehicle out and away from the building, if it could be done safely, would be a real plus. Again, this would have to be a careful assessment. Our trucks are incredibly massive and would be like a 3 1/2 ton block of concrete to move. Yikes! And getting into the truck, while it's on fire, seems insane....and that assumes any of the electrical would actually still work anyway(again, this is a conditions assessment situation).

But, as I said previously, if it could be parked in a level space (all mine are), left in neutral, and have wheel chocks that are easily removed, your chances of shoving it out the door are much, much better. This might be worth a try. But, as we know, Ford (and I'm guessing most all manufacturers) don't present this option. No one seems to want you to leave a car in neutral....even on a level surface. Gone are the days when you could just reach inside and move the gearshift to neutral! But, here's an idea....what if there was a button on the remote to place the vehicle in neutral....maybe a button on the back that you had to press 3 times. Then, move the truck, and press 3 times again to get it back into park.....or let it happen by itself after 30 mins.

Fortunately there haven't been enough Lightning fires to justify such a change, but if I had had an early Bolt I sure would have wanted this! Thanks for listening.

 

[Shmoe]

And, as I said, certainly the priority is to evacuate and call 911, but realistically how could you not then assess the situation and think about saving your house?

I feel like this is how untrained people wind up killing themselves. Save your family, call the professionals and then let them do their job. No need to run into a burning building.

Property can be replaced. Life cannot. Period.

 

[dmd3home]

I feel like this is how untrained people wind up killing themselves. Save your family, call the professionals and then let them do their job. No need to run into a burning building.

Property can be replaced. Life cannot. Period.

Again, if it could be done safely!!!!

 

[unicorn1]

If the battery were to somehow ignite, is there a quick way to place the truck in neutral and drag it from the garage? If the garage is part of a two story house with bedrooms above, this could be life critical. But, if an electrical fire occurred, trying to quickly shift it to neutral using electrical components may not work. It seems there should be a quick mechanical method to place it in neutral. Of course, calling 911 and evacuating the hose would be the priority, but removing a burning vehicle from the garage would be the next priority. Gone are the days of a stick shift that you could just throw into neutral and push it out the door.

The same way you would push a new gas truck out of your garage. And statistically that’s more likely to happen.

call 911 and get your family and pets secured.

 

[dmd3home]

The same way you would push a new gas truck out of your garage. And statistically that’s more likely to happen.

call 911 and get your family and pets secured.

Indeed! ALL cars should have a quick and easy way to put them in neutral!

 

[Shmoe]

Indeed! ALL cars should have a quick and easy way to put them in neutral!

Or simply hope that the fire department controls it before the garage burn time and be grateful for an up-to-date homeowner's insurance policy.

 

[chl]

You shouldnt have bought a house with an attached garage then, hypothetically.

All of this applies to gas vehicles too, which have a higher rate of spontaneous combustion.

Even if you did get your burning vehicle out of the garage, it would still most likely burn the house down if emergency services don't get there fast enough.

Yes, a neighbor of one of my kids in GA had their house go up in smoke from an ICE ignition switch fire a few years ago - no injuries - yes, it was a Ford, and it was an ignition switch defect not aftermarket problem/

 

[Mach Turtle]

Four of those scary EVs in one yard? And it appears that I might live near OP? Should I be thinking of moving before something happens?? (Of course I'm kidding.)

Seriously, +1 more for quick evacuation, calling emergency personnel, and keep up that insurance.

A question, though, for the fire experts: Does anyone know if a typical home sprinkler system (which seems to be required for much new construction around here) can put out enough water to absorb the energy from an EV or ICE vehicle fire and keep it from taking down the whole place? Or will it just add some steam and be overwhelmed? I've heard that a burning sofa puts out about a megawatt of heat for a short time, so a battery or fuel tank would seem to produce enough heat to boil a whole lot of water.

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