Chief of Special Operations Doug Stiller responded to Peekskill for an issue with a Lithium-ion battery. A resident was mowing his lawn with an electric lawnmower when it started to smoke. He stopped using it, and shut it off, but the battery continued to smoke. He decided to call 911 to get the fire department’s assistance. When the FD arrived, they placed the Lithium-ion battery in a 5-gallon bucket of water to cool it down and stop the chemical reaction from occurring.
Li-ion batteries are known to have issues with overheating and flammability when they become damaged. Once they catch fire, they are extremely difficult to put out due to a chemical process called Thermal Runaway. The best way to extinguish them is to flood the battery with copious amounts of water. A Li-ion battery cell first begins to fail when it is subjected to an abuse factor like heat, improper charging, falling, etc. This can lead to off-gassing and hissing, smoke, and eventually fire. Smoke and fire often occur almost simultaneously, so by the time you see smoke, thermal runaway has typically already begun. Off-gassing usually occurs due to a breakdown of the Li-ion battery cell electrolyte, causing over-pressurization of the battery case. Later, the temperature will increase dramatically, smoke is then emitted and fire breaks out. The off-gassing is the emissions of toxic gasses that are the larger threat. These batteries are known to off-gas Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) and other toxic gases. HF can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. When HF comes in contact with water it will create Hydrofluoric Acid. This exposure can lead to very serious illnesses such as damage to lung tissue and other internal organs, skin ulcers, pulmonary edema, and irritation to the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract to name a few.
While the battery was submerged in water, it continued to off-gas, for this reason, Chief Stiller was called to the scene. After assessment and consult with PFD Chief Seymour, Chief Stiller contacted NYS OFPC Special Ops Branch for a CellBlock Fire Containment System container to properly dispose of the battery. NYS OFPC responded quickly from Poughkeepsie with a CellBlock Fire Containment System container. Peekskill FD members along with Chief Stiller safely removed the Li-ion battery from the water and properly placed it in the CellBlock and sealed it closed. The CellBlock container was correctly marked with the sticker for the Li-ion battery and will be disposed of by the homeowner at the Westchester County Household Material Recovery Facility. https://environment.westchestergov.com/facilities/h-mrf
