What if the battery catches fire?
If you notice that the lithium-ion battery is overheating, try moving the device away from flammable materials and disconnecting it from the power source. If you are in an electric vehicle, you should evacuate immediately and do not try to extinguish the lithium battery fire yourself. Your health and safety are more important, please call emergency services.
In the event of a fire, standard ABC or BC dry chemical extinguishers must be used as they are Class B fires. A common misconception is that lithium-ion batteries contain any actual lithium metal. They don't, which is why you shouldn't use a Class D fire extinguisher.
There are also new and improved ways to fight lithium fires. Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD) is a fire suppression agent that disperses chemically exfoliated vermiculite in the form of a mist. However, larger lithium-ion batteries like those in EVs or ESSs may need to be extinguished. Using water with copper materials is effective but expensive.
Battery safety experts recommend using water for even large lithium-ion fires. Fires like these can burn for days, and it's important to isolate them from flammable materials and keep them from growing.
