Following the recommendations of the technical committees for preventive fire and hazard protection and for operations, extinguishing agents, and environmental protection of the German fire services within AGBF Bund, the following procedure was officially recommended in January 2021.
The initial firefighting measures are the same as for a conventional car fire: cooling with water and, if necessary, with extinguishing agent additives such as foam or wetting agents.
It is important to always consult the most up-to-date emergency response guides.
In general, modern vehicles release more smoke and heat.
If the vehicle is an electric vehicle, the high-voltage battery should be examined with a thermal imaging camera.
The efficient extinguishing agent for firefighting remains water.
If, when checking the high-voltage battery in the electric vehicle, a temperature significantly above the ambient temperature is measured, combined with a steady temperature rise, current recommendations call for cooling the housing of the high-voltage battery with water.
Quarantining is explicitly not the fire department's responsibility. In its latest recommendation, the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) advises using this method only in absolute exceptional cases, as firewater disposal places a major logistical burden on fire departments. Preventive wet quarantine in particular should be avoided.
The HV battery in the electric vehicle must be cooled and monitored with the thermal imaging camera until the vehicle can be handed over to the operator or a suitable towing company.
Extinguishing success is achieved solely through the cooling effect of the water.
Source:
https://www.agbf.de/downloads-fachausschuss-vorbeugender-brand-und-gefahrenschutz/category/28-fa-vbg-oeffentlich-empfehlungen?download=356:2021-01-fachempfehlung-elektrofahrzeuge