Lithium-ion Battery Fires

Project Title: Lithium-ion Battery Fires: Initial Investigation into Contamination, Cleaning Efficacy, and Firefighter Exposures

This research focuses on enhancing firefighter safety during lithium-ion battery (LIB) fires by identifying harmful chemical exposures and improving the decontamination of personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent secondary exposure. Given the increasing prevalence of LIB fires, which are characterized by intense heat, explosions, and toxic gas emissions, this study is crucial for firefighter and public safety. It is especially relevant as firefighting has recently been classified as a Group 1 known human carcinogen.

The study will be conducted in two phases: first, it will characterize contamination from LIB fires by using controlled burn apparatuses, analyzing field-contaminated gear, and testing cleaning efficacy. The second phase will establish protocols for evaluating firefighter exposures through environmental and biological sampling.

The Goals of this research are:

1. Identify the contaminants of interest specific to lithium-ion battery fires and determine relative amounts found on exposed protective equipment. 
2. Determine efficacy of current standardized cleaning procedures at removing battery specific contaminants at independent service providers (ISPs) and fire departments. 
3. Develop exposure and sampling protocols to detect chemicals or biomarkers of exposure in samples from firefighters following response to lithium-ion battery fires.

The research aims to comprehensively identify battery fire contaminants, assess cleaning methods for PPE, and establish validated sampling protocols, with findings shared through journals, conferences, and training for actionable safety guidelines.

• Grant: DHS FEMA – Assistance to Firefighter Grants