Course Description

This presentation focuses on giving first responders a clear, practical look at alternative energy technologies, the safety risks they bring, and how to handle them effectively on scene. It cuts through the noise to focus on real-world best practices for today's fire service.

• Alternative Fuels & Hydrogen: Covers everything from light crude rail transport hazards to gaseous fuels like CNG, LNG, and propane. Highlights hydrogen fuel cell tech—focusing on its invisible flames, wide flammability range, and high storage pressures.

• Lithium-Ion & Energy Storage (BESS): Breaks down battery failure mechanisms, off-gassing, and thermal runaway. Uses real local case studies (like Chaumont and Warwick, NY) to demonstrate why industry best practices are shifting toward defensive exposure protection and letting burning BESS units consume themselves rather than trying to put them out.

• Electric Vehicle Tactics: Focuses on the core response strategy: Identify, Immobilize, Disable. Emphasizes proper sizing-up, using emergency plugs or cutting first-responder loops, avoiding battery casing penetration, using specialized underbody cooling nozzles, and monitoring for re-ignition over 24 hours.

• Scene Management & Disposal: Covers overall risk categorization (Normal, Potentially Hazardous, Hazardous), post-incident towing protocols, calculating battery Watt-hours, and proper packaging for safe disposal.