Alternative fuel vehicle safety training for the fire service

NFPA offers online safety training to the U.S. fire service on incidents involving alternative fuel vehicles including electric, hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell, bio-diesel and gaseous fuels such as CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), LPG (Liquid Propane Gas), and their recharging/refueling stations. The online training can be started and stopped at any time and features videos, animations, simulations, review questions, and scenarios. Highly engaging 3D interactive vehicle models that reinforce concepts are continuously refreshed with the latest technology and fire tactics.

Topics addressed include:

• introduction to hybrid, electric, fuel cell, & gaseous fuel vehicles
• basic electrical concepts
• vehicle systems & charging/refueling infrastructure
• initial response procedures
• identification methods, immobilization, disabling, emergency operations
• unanticipated vehicle movement, electric shock hazards
• toxic and flammable gas build-up & electrolyte skin contact
• extrication, vehicle and battery fires, submersion
• high voltage battery damage, battery re-ignition
• incidents involving charging stations & refueling stations

Classroom Training  

NFPA offers classroom training for firefighters with the information they need to respond to emergency situations involving alternative fuel vehicles. This comprehensive courses feature videos, animations, activities, and field evolutions involving AFVs. Please contact us if you are interested in hosting NFPA classroom training at your facility. 

 

Training Tools

• Alternative Fuel Vehicles 3D Exploratory App: designed to provide firefighters with interactive 3D exploration of AFVs and their unique components. Vehicle models include a plug-in electric vehicle, and an LNG fueled medium-duty vehicle. 
• Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Quick Reference Sheet: provides first responders with an overview of initial response actions and general safety information for incidents involving electric and hybrid vehicles.

 

Fire Service Video Library

 

This video takes the data gathered through the HEV/EV high voltage battery burn study conducted by the NFPA’s Fire Protection Research Foundation and breaks it down into a series of tactical considerations and best practices for extinguishing fires in HEV and EVs. 

 
NFPA's Fire Service Segment Director Ken Willette demonstrates how the 2013 Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Emergency Field Guide can be used to assess the safety risk of individual automobile models.

Additional Research

• Best Practices for Emergency Response to Incidents Involving Electric Vehicles Battery Hazards: A Report on Full-Scale Testing Results   
• U.S. National Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit report (PDF, 2 MB)