The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) published a bulletin warning consumers of a major fire hazard associated with Lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles, and hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Saltwater flooding and storm surge caused by the hurricane present a fire hazard to electric vehicles (EVs). This includes not just cars, but scooters, hoverboards, golf carts, and children's toys as well. These devices should be unplugged and kept in a safe location. If an EV or lithium-battery-powered device is to be disposed of, consumers should contact their local government to find a location for safe disposal. These devices can't be disposed of in a regular car lot or trash site.
The Division of State Fire Marshal has so far confirmed 16 lithium-ion battery fires as a result of Hurricane Helene, with six of those caused by EVs. They believe these numbers are underreported and are gathering more data.
The State Fire Marshal offers the following advice for a flooded EV, hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles:
- Leave windows and doors open to allow gases to vent
- If the vehicle is stored indoors, move it outside to an open-air location. If it can't be moved, keep the storage area open and vented
- Unplug and do not charge the vehicle
- Disable the vehicle by chocking the wheels and disconnecting the 12V battery
- Avoid contact with the high voltage (HV) battery
- Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for your specific vehicle
The bulletin can be found here.