EV Fires: Rare But Relentless — What the Bedford Toll Plaza Incident Teaches Us About Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
By the FireFibers Team
A dramatic incident in New Hampshire last month put electric vehicle fire safety back in the national spotlight — and highlighted exactly why preparedness matters more than ever.
What Happened in Bedford
On March 31, actor and comedian Eugene Mirman was driving an electric vehicle through the F.E. Everett Turnpike toll plaza when his car crashed and caught fire. A member of Governor Kelly Ayotte's security detail happened to be nearby and helped pull Mirman to safety. He was later discharged from the hospital with no life-threatening injuries.
But the story didn't end there.
Days later, at a tow lot in Merrimack, the vehicle reignited. It took firefighters 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze, and Fire Chief Joseph Guarnera warned it could catch fire again due to stored energy still remaining in the battery cells.
This is the reality of lithium-ion battery fires — and the phenomenon known as thermal runaway.
The Facts: EV Fires Are Rare, But They're Different
Let's be clear about the data. According to EV FireSafe, an Australia-based organization that compiles global data on EV fire incidents, electric vehicles are actually less likely to catch fire than traditional gas-powered cars. The U.S. alone averages more than 215,000 vehicle fires annually (both gas and electric combined), according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Between 2010 and the end of 2022, EV FireSafe verified just 337 cases of EV batteries entering thermal runaway worldwide, with an additional 48 unverified cases from reliable sources. Most occurred after 2020, corresponding with EV sales expanding to roughly 10% of global market share.
In New Hampshire, where approximately 16,400 all-electric vehicles and 6,400 plug-in hybrids are registered, there have been fewer than two EV fires per year since officials began distinguishing them in reporting in 2024.
So no — EVs aren't bursting into flames at alarming rates. But when they do catch fire, the challenge is fundamentally different:
- They burn up to 20% hotter than traditional vehicle fires
- They're significantly harder to extinguish — requiring more personnel, specialized equipment, and vastly more water
- They can reignite hours or even days later
- More than 2,500 gallons of water may be needed just to cool the batteries
- In about 5% of cases, thermal runaway leads to violent explosions (deflagration), particularly when vehicles are in enclosed or underground spaces
As New Hampshire's Sean Toomey put it bluntly: "When there's a failure and they burn, you don't just pull up with one engine carrying 500-1,000 gallons. It's nearly impossible to stop a thermal runaway."
What First Responders Need to Know
EV FireSafe and the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office both emphasize containment as the primary strategy. Their guidance for first responders includes critical safety considerations:
- Immobilize damaged EVs with tire chocks — these vehicles can begin moving silently and rapidly without engine noise
- Watch for dark vapor clouds (not smoke) of toxic and flammable gases, which are a precursor to thermal runaway. When these clouds form, batteries can release jet-like directional flames
- Beware of electrocution risks during extrication — EV batteries are located on the chassis floor, making standard techniques like forcibly removing the vehicle floor extremely dangerous
- Continuously monitor for signs of reignition, even after the fire appears to be out
Toomey noted that these dark gray fumes are dangerous to breathe and that while fire blankets are sometimes used to cover them, trapping combustible gases introduces its own risks. His recommendation? "I advocate for dragging the vehicle out to a place where you can safely let it burn."
This Is Why Fire Blankets Matter
At FireFibers, incidents like the Bedford toll plaza crash reinforce exactly what we hear from fire departments, tow operators, parking garage managers, and fleet operators every day: we need better tools for managing lithium-ion battery fires.
Traditional suppression methods weren't designed for the unique physics of thermal runaway. Lithium-ion fire blankets offer a critical layer of defense — containing heat, limiting oxygen exposure, and reducing the spread of toxic fumes while giving first responders time to assess the situation and execute a safe response plan.
Whether it's an EV in a parking structure, a scooter in a warehouse, or consumer electronics in a commercial facility, containment is the strategy experts recommend — and the right fire blanket is one of the most practical tools available to execute it.
The Road Ahead
Electric vehicles represent a growing share of the cars on our roads, and the technology is evolving rapidly. Researchers are actively working to make lithium-ion batteries safer. But as the Bedford incident proves, the risk of thermal runaway is real, and the current fire response infrastructure isn't always equipped to handle it.
Being prepared isn't about fear — it's about smart risk management.
Want to learn how FireFibers lithium-ion fire blankets can help protect your facility, fleet, or department? [Contact our team today] to discuss the right solution for your needs.
Stay safe out there.
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