Batteries spark 2 devastating house fires on same day in Portland area

[Caribbeans]

Batteries spark 2 devastating house fires on same day in Portland area

Julia Lopez | Sep. 14, 2024

GRESHAM Ore. (KPTV) - Eleven people total were displaced after two separate fires sparked in just one day this week in the Portland area, both caused by Lithium-ion batteries in what’s known as a thermal runaway.

Lithium-ion batteries are found in devices such as phones, laptops, and tablets; they’re also found in rechargeable electric scooters, bikes and cars. Due to internal or external factors, they can defect and overheat, which is what happened to one Gresham family now without a home.

Josawa Heagle was asleep with his family in their apartment on Southeast Division Street when a fire started just before midnight Thursday.

“I would expect it if it was hooked up to a charger, but just sitting there? No, not to explode and catch everything around it on fire,” Heagle said. He said the smell of smoke and a blaze in their backyard woke them up.

“I was in a panic, I thought it was a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from,” Heagle said...more
https://www.kptv.com/2024/09/15/batteries-spark-2-devastating-house-fires-same-day-portland-area/

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/fire-that-started-from-two-teslas-parked-in-lafayette-driveway-spreads-to-nearby-vegetation/ar-AA1pxNMl

Marathon Operation To Extinguish Burning Semi, Carrying Lithium-Ion Batteries - Kempsey
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Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews on the state's north coast have carried out a prolonged operation to extinguish a fierce fire which has engulfed a semi-trailer and its load of Lithium-ion batteries. FRNSW received numerous Triple-Zero (000) calls just before 2.30 this morning about the rig alight in the northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway, south of Kempsey.

Eight fire trucks and 32 firefighters from Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Wauchope, rushed to the scene, assisted by the Rural Fire Service, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and Transport for NSW...
https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/incident.php?record=recuAH9mqRqAdIn6p

China bans electric vehicles from (some) underground carparks

September 14, 2024 “Based on the characteristics of electric vehicle fires and our hotel’s firefighting capabilities, we think it safer not to allow them into the underground garage,” RFA quotes one five-star hotel owner as stating...
https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/on-the-road/china-bans-electric-vehicles-from-underground-carparks/news-story/b7c07b8e942cb3076b704029e327d6cf

South Koreans Are Ditching EVs Due To Repeated Fires Caused By Batteries

Sep 12, 2024: It was on August 1, that a Mercedes-Benz EV ignited in an underground parking facility in Incheon, which resulted in over 8 hours of firefighting efforts, which to 23 hospitalizations. This also caused damage to approximately 140 vehicles, and power and water outages affecting 1,600 homes for a week...
https://trak.in/stories/south-koreans-are-ditching-evs-due-to-repeated-fires-caused-by-batteries/

When the first battery school buses catch on fire (of course hopefully not but hoping when it comes to safety is a fools errand) maybe there won't be any audio. The images will be bad enough.

[CentralMass]

1. Stats on EV sales in Korea

https://www.statista.com/outlook/mmo/electric-vehicles/south-korea

"In 2024, the projected revenue in the Electric Vehicles market in South Korea is estimated to reach US$7.9bn.
Looking ahead, the market is expected to demonstrate a steady annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 5.49%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$10.4bn by 2029.
It is anticipated that Electric Vehicles market unit sales will reach 174.30k vehicles in 2029.
The volume weighted average price of Electric Vehicles market in South Korea is expected to be US$60.4k in 2024.
On an international scale, it is evident that China will generate the highest revenue in the Electric Vehicles market, amounting to US$376,400m in 2024.
South Korea is experiencing a surge in electric vehicle sales, driven by government incentives and a growing awareness of environmental issues."

[marble falls]

2. I want an EV very much. I'll wait for safer batteries.

[marble falls]

3. My favorite picture of a Tesla. Just wait for 10 year old Tesas to start hitting the market ...

... Tesla's new minivan ...



After ttge battery fire ...