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Gippsland Emergency Services need F-500 extinguishers to address lithium-ion battery fires as electric vehicle use rises

Melina Bath asks the Emergency Services Minister about the urgency in providing F-500 fire extinguishers to address lithium-ion battery fires, emergency responders require support in acquiring this essential gear.

By news@gippsland - 30th November 2023 - Back to News

My question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. With the use of electric vehicles increasing, there does come a serious new challenge: vehicles with lithium-ion batteries can be especially dangerous when they catch fire. F-500 fire extinguishers are required to put these fires out.

F-500 is a multiple-purpose fire fighting extinguisher which is ideal for class A and F fires and Lithium-Ion battery fires. It is the only agent proven to extinguish lithium-ion batteries fires, without reignition

Lithium fire response

Our CFA brigades and emergency services personnel will be increasingly required to respond to lithium battery fires, and they are incredibly challenging to put out. Traditional firefighting equipment just doesn't cut it because the fires are spurred by runaway thermal energy.

CFA brigades, such as the Phillip Island CFA in my electorate, are being asked, required or forced to fundraise to purchase this equipment. I ask the minister: when will the Allan Labor government supply my Eastern Victoria fire brigades with these specialised new pieces of equipment?

Pictures from Wikipedia website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com