06/02/2026
Today, members of Watertown Fire Rescue participated in specialized training on electric vehicle fires and lithium-ion battery hazards presented by Next Level Training Network.
As electric vehicles, e-bikes, scooters, and other battery-powered devices become more common, understanding their hazards is increasingly important. The training provided valuable insight into how lithium-ion batteries behave during failures and the challenges they can create during emergencies.
A few key takeaways we want our community to know:
• If you own an electric or hybrid vehicle, take time to familiarize yourself with emergency procedures, vehicle safety features, and the manual operation of doors and emergency exits.
• Avoid storing or charging lithium-ion powered devices such as e-bikes, scooters, or large battery packs in bedrooms, hallways, stairwells, or near exits. If a battery fails, it can produce intense heat, fire, and toxic smoke very quickly, potentially blocking escape routes.
We appreciate Next Level Training Network for providing an informative and eye-opening class that helps keep our firefighters prepared for the hazards of today and tomorrow.
