Policy Text
Roll Call Training Bulletin
Produced by: Lieutenant Ryan Enkoji, North Command Katherine Lester , Chief of Police
Prepared by: Officer Mark Kimble , PSU Volume 25 -15
Thermal Runaway in Electrical Vehicles
08-07-2025
BACKGROUND
Recent vehicle fires involving electric vehicles (EVs ) have prompted a heightened awareness
regarding thermal runaway in EVs . The purpose of this bulletin is to assist officers in responding to
calls for service ( e.g., traffic collisions or vehicle fires ) where an EV is exhibiting signs of thermal
runaway.
What Is Thermal Runaway?
Lithium -ion batteries in EVs are comprised of hundreds of small cells. When these cells overheat,
they can in dividually explode , releasing intense heat and toxic gases, which can be very harmful.
These thermal runaway events can lead to spontaneous fires and battery reignition, even after the
initial fire has been extinguished.
What Should Officers Do When Encountering Thermal Runaway ?
• Use caution if it sounds like “fireworks ” are going off in an EV.
• Immediately request the fire department respond and advise them if a lithium -ion battery or EV
is involved.
• The recommended distance for evacuation and isolation during an EV fire is 330 feet.
Employees responding to an EV fire should seek voluntary evacuations within that 330 foot
isolation distance.
• Consider the use of city crews to implement hard closures with barricades or cones until the
scene is deemed safe.
For more information, please watch a short video by
Selecting the link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Cl6_Y2rXU