MERRILL, WI (WSAU) — The Merrill Fire Department hosted a training event focused on electric vehicles last Thursday.
Fire Chief Josh Klug says it was an opportunity for his staff and other departments to get a feel for the challenges presented by an EV fire. “It’s given us a better understanding of [what to do] to maintain safety for ourselves and the public that might be around those accidents.”
He says they didn’t get to practice on an EV or attempt to cut into one, but they still received some hands-on training with an EV as part of the class. It was also a chance for them to get facts about the cars from a group that’s worked on and with them before. For many, this was their first experience with an EV. “There has been some inaccurate information that has been shared and spread. Without having this training we [would be] unsure. This allowed us to better understand the cars.”
Klug added that without the class many of his firefighters may have gone into a situation with an EV with only the information they had seen on social media or YouTube.
Those in attendance learned everything from the best spray patterns for putting out an EV fire to the risk factors in saving elements of the vehicle. Additionally, Klug says an EV fire can be time-consuming for first responders. A typical car fire can last for about an hour, but because of the elements involved with an EV crews could spend another two or three hours on the scene to make sure everything is cleaned up.
Both career and volunteer firefighters from as far away as Shawano took advantage of the training. KB Bodyshop and Wheelers Chevrolet of Merrill helped sponsor the event, while Rod’s Towing sponsored lunch for the attendees.
