Cape Coral firefighters urge EV owners to beware fires after submersion

The Cape Coral Fire Department urges electric vehicle owners to beware of possible fires if their EVs were at some point submerged in water during Hurricane Ian.

According to CCFD, at least two fire departments in the area experienced electric vehicle fires caused by the vehicles’ submersion in saltwater from the storm surge brought by Ian. Hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles are designed to be safe in the water, even when fully submerged. However, submersion in water (especially salt water) can damage low- and high-voltage components, resulting in an electrical short and potential fire once the vehicle is no longer submerged.

If you have one of these vehicles, and it was submerged in a saltwater storm surge, be sure to move it out of your garage and call the manufacturer for the next steps.

Following the guidance of the National Fire Protection Association, the Florida Fire Chiefs Association has safety recommendations for alternative fuel vehicle owners and first
responders.

If you’re a vehicle owner, and your alternative fuel vehicle was flooded:

• Leave all windows and/or doors open to allow any potentially flammable gases to vent from the passenger compartment
• If the vehicle is being stored indoors, and can be moved, move it outside into an open-air location. Keep the storage area open and vented if it cannot be moved
• Do not remove service disconnects
• Disable the vehicle by chocking the wheels, placing the gearshift into park, removing the ignition key, and/or disconnecting the 12V battery
• Avoid contact with the HV battery especially if a vehicle is showing signs of a damaged or overheating HV battery