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KANE COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) — A west suburban firefighter is bringing innovation to the table to fight a new kind of fire.
As electric vehicles become more widespread, the risk of severe and intense fires increases, creating unique challenges for emergency responders globally.
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A new tool designed by a Naperville firefighter aims to help with the new threat.
“Electric vehicle fires are changing our approach at the fire department,” stated Danny Puknaitis, a Naperville firefighter who co-invented the Poseidon nozzle.
New technology is creating a unique problem for first responders.
With the introduction of this new tool, it became evident that we needed to take action to improve our ability to manage these fires, enhancing our protection of citizens and their property.
Phil Giannattasio, Naperville Fire Deputy Chief
“They burn hotter. They burn 1000 to 3000 degrees,” Puknaitis said. “They burn longer, 45 minutes to roughly an hour and a half.”
Four years ago, Puknaitis and his partner initiated the creation of a solution, culminating in the development of the Poseidon nozzle, which delivers 420 gallons per minute. Puknaitis demonstrated to ABC7 in Kane County how this nozzle offers a novel method in tackling EV fires.
“Previously, we would approach with a fire hose to cool the compartment fire, but this didn’t allow us to address the area under the car effectively,” Puknaitis explained. “With this nozzle, you can deploy it under the vehicle in seconds.”
Lithium-ion batteries that power EVs can produce their own oxygen during a fire, exacerbating the blaze and complicating extinguishing efforts. These batteries are often located underneath the vehicle, making it challenging for a regular hose to access the fire’s origin.
“If it’s in a parking garage, if it’s underneath the interstate, under a bridge, if it’s buttoned up, a car accident next to an elementary school, or a T-bone accident with somebody trapped inside, you have to do something. You can’t just let it burn,” Puknaitis said.
Naperville Fire Deputy Chief Phil Giannattasio said their department has three nozzles at the ready for when, not if, an EV fire happens.
“When this tool became available to us, we knew we needed to act and work with something to help us combat these fires, better be able to protect our citizens and our property,” Giannattasio said.
Puknaitis says fire departments around the country are using his technology, and it has even spread internationally to Mexico, Canada, Israel and the United Kingdom.
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