### Florida Officials Warn of Fire Risks in Electric Vehicles Exposed to Hurricane Ian's Floodwaters

Firefighters in Florida are facing unprecedented challenges as electric vehicles (EVs) disabled by Hurricane Ian pose significant fire hazards. Florida's Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal, Jimmy Patronis, has been vocally highlighting the elevated risks that floodwaters present to EVs.

"We observed multiple fires linked to EVs following Hurricane Ian," Patronis remarked earlier. "The saltwater from storm surges can degrade the batteries, leading to fires that are incredibly difficult to put out. The primary strategy for firefighting teams is to keep dousing the battery with water until it exhausts its fuel."

Pinellas County, a region with a high concentration of EV ownership, has proactively alerted its residents to the dangers posed by floodwaters. The county has advised that any electric vehicle or golf cart exposed to saltwater should be moved at least 50 feet away from homes to mitigate fire risks in the subsequent days.

Firefighters underscore that dealing with electric car fires is markedly more complicated compared to those involving gas-powered vehicles. The complexity arises from the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs.

While Tesla, which was once the largest electric vehicle manufacturer globally, has claimed that their cars have lower fire incident rates compared to other vehicles, the concerns remain pressing for Florida. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Florida has more than 250,000 registered electric vehicles, making it the state with the second-highest number of EVs in the nation.

These developments prompt urgent attention to the safety measures required to handle the unique risks posed by electric vehicles in the aftermath of natural disasters like Hurricane Ian.