What to Do If Your Electric Vehicle Catches Fire

Electric vehicle fires are rare — EVs are actually far less likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars (more on that below). But when a lithium-ion battery fire does occur, it behaves very differently from a conventional vehicle fire, and the response is different too.

Here’s what Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) recommends — and why the standard instinct to grab your fire extinguisher is not always the right first move with an EV battery fire.

Why EV Battery Fires Are Different

Most vehicle fires involve the fuel system, cabin materials or engine — fires that extinguishers and water can suppress quickly. EV battery fires are different because of a process called thermal runaway.

Thermal runaway is a self-sustaining chemical reaction inside the battery cells. Once it starts, it generates its own heat, accelerates rapidly, and doesn’t require oxygen to continue. Battery cells can reach temperatures above 1,000°C. The fire can appear to be out and then reignite hours — or even days — later as heat builds up in cells adjacent to the initially affected area.

EV battery fires also release toxic gases including hydrogen fluoride, which is hazardous even at low concentrations. This is why getting clear and calling emergency services matters far more than attempting to fight the fire yourself.

→ For verified Australian vehicle fire statistics including EV incidents, see our Vehicle & EV Fire Statistics in Australia (2026).

What to Do — Step by Step

If your electric vehicle catches fire or you suspect thermal runaway, follow FRNSW guidance:

1. Get everyone out immediately. Engage the parking brake, switch the vehicle off if you can do so safely, and evacuate all passengers.
2. Move at least 30 metres away. FRNSW recommends a minimum 30-metre exclusion zone — even if there is no visible smoke, vapour or flames. Thermal runaway can escalate without warning.
3. Call 000 immediately. Don’t wait to assess severity. Tell the operator it is an electric vehicle and give your location.
4. Do not attempt to fight the fire yourself. Once thermal runaway is underway in the battery pack, no portable consumer extinguisher can stop it. Your priority is distance and calling for professional response.
5. Stay well clear even after the fire appears out. EV batteries can reignite hours or days later. Emergency services monitor with thermal imaging cameras to detect residual heat in the pack.
6. Tell emergency services about any prior damage. If the vehicle was in a collision, submerged in water, or suspected to have battery damage, inform 000 — it changes how firefighters approach the scene.

Can a Fire Extinguisher Help?

Yes — for certain types of fire. No — for an established thermal runaway in the battery pack. The distinction matters.

Where an extinguisher can help:

• A small cabin fire (seat, carpet, dashboard materials) before it reaches the battery
• A charging cable or socket fire
• A fuel or fluid fire (same as any vehicle)
• A tyre fire
• Any fire that has not yet involved the battery pack

Where it cannot help:

• Stopping or slowing thermal runaway once it is underway in the battery pack
• Preventing reignition after apparent suppression

For EV battery fires, firefighters use very large volumes of water to cool the pack over an extended period. This is the method recommended by all major manufacturers and fire services. Personal extinguishers cannot deliver the volume of water required.

What About Lithium-Ion Specific Extinguishers?

What Extinguisher Should You Keep in Your EV?

For a vehicle-mounted fire extinguisher, the answer is the same for an EV as for any other vehicle: an ABE dry powder extinguisher.

ABE is the standard choice for vehicles under AS 2444:2001 because it covers the three main vehicle fire risks:

• Class A — solid material fires (cabin materials, seat fabric, plastics)
• Class B — flammable liquid fires (fuel, oils, fluids)
• Class E — electrical fires (wiring, charging equipment)

CO2 extinguishers are sometimes suggested for EVs because of their Class E (electrical) rating, but CO2 carries no Class A rating — making it unsuitable as a standalone vehicle extinguisher. If a cabin fire involves seat materials or dashboard plastics, CO2 will not be effective.

ABE is messy — the dry powder residue will need cleaning up — but it is the right tool for the cabin, cable and non-battery fires where a vehicle extinguisher can genuinely help. A 1kg ABE is the AS 2444 minimum for a private car; a 2.5kg unit gives you more agent for larger fires.

→ See full vehicle-by-vehicle requirements: Vehicle Fire Extinguisher Guide (AS 2444) | Browse fire extinguishers for vehicles

EV Fire Prevention — What FRNSW Recommends

The reassuring reality: EV fires are genuinely rare. As of early 2026, there have been just 13 confirmed EV battery fires in Australia since 2021 — across more than 473,000 electric vehicles. Per vehicle, EVs are estimated to catch fire at roughly 0.0012% versus 0.1% for petrol and diesel cars, making EVs approximately 80 times less likely to be involved in a fire.

To reduce risk further, FRNSW recommends:

• Install a smoke or heat alarm in any garage where you regularly charge an EV
• Never charge a vehicle that has been in a collision, flood, or suspected battery impact
• Keep vehicle software up to date — manufacturers issue battery management updates that reduce thermal risk
• Avoid leaving a charging vehicle completely unattended overnight where possible
• If you notice unusual heat, swelling, odour, or sounds from the battery area — do not drive or charge the vehicle; contact the manufacturer

→ For a complete guide to vehicle extinguisher requirements by vehicle type, see our Vehicle Fire Extinguisher Guide (AS 2444). For all extinguisher types explained, see our Fire Extinguisher Types Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are EV fires more common than petrol car fires in Australia?

No — EVs are significantly less likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel vehicles. As of early 2026, there have been 13 confirmed EV battery fires in Australia since 2021, across more than 473,000 electric vehicles on the road. The fire rate per vehicle is approximately 0.0012% for EVs versus 0.1% for ICE vehicles — making EVs roughly 80 times less likely to be involved in a vehicle fire.

Can I put out an EV battery fire with a fire extinguisher?

A portable fire extinguisher can help with cabin fires, charging cable fires, and fuel or tyre fires in an EV — the same situations where it would help in any vehicle. But once thermal runaway is underway in the battery pack, no portable consumer extinguisher can stop it. The battery burns at over 1,000°C without requiring oxygen. If you suspect a battery fire, do not try to fight it. Move at least 30 metres away and call 000 immediately.

What type of fire extinguisher should I keep in my electric car?

An ABE (dry powder) extinguisher — the same as any other vehicle. ABE covers Class A (solid material fires), Class B (flammable liquids) and Class E (electrical fires), which are the main risks in a vehicle cabin, fuel or charging system fire. A 1kg ABE is the AS 2444:2001 recommended minimum for a private car. CO2 extinguishers are not suitable as a standalone vehicle extinguisher because they carry no Class A rating.

Are lithium-ion fire extinguishers approved for EV battery fires in Australia?

No. There is currently no Australian Standard for extinguishing lithium-ion battery fires, and CSIRO ActivFire — Australia’s fire product certification body — has explicitly stated it will not certify any extinguisher as effective for this purpose. FPA Australia confirms that products cannot claim compliance with Australian Fire Extinguisher Standards for lithium-ion battery fires. Products marketed as “lithium-ion approved” hold their AS/NZS 1841 approval as a water-type extinguisher only — not as a Li-Ion suppression agent. Australian fire brigades do not recommend these products as a solution to EV thermal runaway.