HOW TO EXTINGUISH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY FIRES | VOGT CTE

1. Cooling with large amounts of water
The most important and common strategy is intensive and prolonged cooling with water. The primary goal is not to extinguish the flames but to lower the temperature to stop the chemical reaction in the battery. Since water evaporates quickly and does not reach all cells immediately, very large quantities and long application times are necessary. This method is particularly effective in preventing re-ignition.

2. Allowing controlled burning
In some situations, active extinguishing can be too dangerous or technically impractical. In such cases, the fire is allowed to burn under control while cooling and securing the surroundings. This prevents the fire from spreading to other objects and protects emergency personnel from explosive energy release.

3. Shielding and isolating
Another strategy is the spatial separation of the burning battery from its surroundings. Distance, fireproof barriers, or special containers are used to prevent heat and flames from spreading to other materials. This method is often employed during transport or in industrial facilities.

4. Use of specialized extinguishing agents
There are specialized extinguishing agents for lithium fires, such as cooling or smothering additives that bind heat or slow down the spread. They typically do not completely replace water but can be supportive, especially for smaller batteries or in early fire phases.

5. Covering and smothering (only limited effectiveness)
Covering with fire blankets, sand, or granules can help to limit flames and sparks. Since lithium fires can partially generate their own oxygen, this method alone is usually not sufficient, but it can contribute to control and security.

6. Long-term monitoring after the fire
Even after actual extinguishing, continuous monitoring is crucial. Batteries can reignite if the internal temperature rises again. Therefore, they are often monitored, cooled, or transported to safe containers over hours or days. Lithium fires are not extinguished like regular fires – instead, one cools, controls, isolates, and monitors until the stored energy is safely dissipated.