Sacramento Firefighters Undergo Experimental IV-Therapy After Tesla EV Battery Fire Exposure
Four Sacramento firefighters have been undergoing experimental IV-therapy since April after being exposed to a Tesla electric vehicle (EV) battery fire. This is the first incident of firefighters being sidelined due to exposure to a lithium-ion battery fire. The incident involved a Tesla Megapack system supplied by BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems), which was located in a PG&E-operated settlement in Sacramento.
The fire, which occurred in April 2024, caused months of downtime for the affected firefighters due to their exposure to the toxic fumes and the challenging nature of the blaze. Captain Justin Sylvia has urged crews to stay on air while on the scene of electric vehicle battery fires to prevent exposure. The firefighters were not wearing SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) during cleanup, leading to their exposure. One of the chemicals in EV batteries, when it hits water, turns into an acid, making the situation dangerous. Electric vehicle battery fires can enter thermal runaway and become unpredictable if not handled properly. Exposure to the battery fumes caused a metallic taste in the firefighters' mouths. The IV-infused procedure is aimed at removing heavy metals from the firefighters' lungs and bloodstreams.
The incident highlights the potential dangers firefighters face when dealing with electric vehicle battery fires. The experimental IV-therapy is being used to treat the affected firefighters, with the aim of removing heavy metals from their systems. The official cause of the fire has not yet been released, but the identity of the battery manufacturer, Tesla, has been confirmed in several media reports.
