Eureka, Citizens gifted eplugs to thwart electric vehicle dangers
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First responders are learning to combat a new type of safety risk: electric vehicles.
“They’re silent,” Eureka Fire-Rescue Chief Brad James said. “You pull up and you assume it’s off. If it’s still in drive and the patient or first responder accidentally hits the pedal, that thing can take off.”
Harrison resident Sam Huey partnered with the Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation this past week to provide two emergency plugs, or eplugs, to safeguard responders at the scene of an electric vehicle collision or fire.
The devices, made by Netherlands-based Total Safety Solutions, cost $1,000 each. They were donated to Eureka Fire-Rescue-EMS in Tarentum and Citizens Hose in Harrison.
“As soon as it’s plugged into the car, it puts it in park,” said Huey, a 51-year member of Highland Hose in Tarentum. “It shuts down all the systems.”
Foundation President John Pastorek said the technology works to protect rescue personnel and bystanders.
“It tricks the car into thinking it’s being charged,” Pastorek said.
The device, similar in size to a gas nozzle, is equipped with adapters to fit every socket of hybrid or electric vehicles. A color-coded illuminated handle glows in red, green or blue to let users know when the safe mode is reached.
Lights, windows and seats remain operable.
“The more we start seeing electric vehicles coming through, it will definitely be helpful,” Citizens Deputy Chief Matt Barch said.
“There’s a safety aspect that you can’t put a price on.”
There have been no issues reported locally with electric vehicle response, Barch and James said. They have, however, heard about reports from other parts of the country.
On Thursday, members of Citizens Hose and Eureka gathered at the foundation headquarters off Route 908 for a presentation from Huey and Pastorek.
Gary Duster, owner of Duster’s Funeral Home in Tarentum, drove his Tesla to the site for a hands-on demonstration.
With the Eureka fire engine idling in the background, there was no way to tell if the Tesla was running.
“Most cars have a gear shift that lets responders know if the car is in drive or reverse,” said Jim Erb, Citizens EMS supervisor. “In these cars, everything is touchscreen.”
For responses involving a traditional car, crews would pull the key and enable the parking brake. For electric vehicles, Huey said, “you’d have to pop the hatch and get the bolt cutters and cut the wires.”
The eplugs are a time saver, reducing the shutoff time to seconds.
Huey said he noticed the eplugs advertised in firefighting magazines and approached Pastorek to partner on the purchase so Harrison and Tarentum could each get one.
“If I see new technology that I can offer, I want to help,” Huey said.
Greensburg fire Chief Tom Bell, who carries one in his department vehicle and has others in the city’s three rescue trucks, said the plugs are critical to have. They have not had to use one.
“It’s a firefighter safety issue,” Bell said, because the vehicle will continue to move if the motor is not disengaged.
Even though the Latrobe fire department has not had to use its two electric plugs the department purchased with a state grant this year, they are critical for a fire department to have, said fire Chief John Brasile.
“These battery fires are hard to put out. They cause us problems. They (batteries) have such a high voltage,” Brasile said.
Bell said it could take a tanker full of water to douse a battery fire.
“They (lithium batteries) burn very hot. It takes thousands and thousands of gallons of water to put one out,” Bell said.
The batteries remain so hot after being doused with water that tow truck operators will segregate the electric- battery-powered vehicle inside a concrete enclosure so it does not catch other vehicles or a building on fire, Bell said.
Even dousing the batteries with foam does not always solve the problem, Brasile said. In some cases, they have to let the electric-powered cars burn down, he added.
Latrobe’s fire department does have a piece of equipment that slides underneath the car and douses the flames from under the carriage, Brasile said.
The Jeannette Fire Department got one last year, said Joseph Matijevic, fire department captain.
Although the electric plug that is kept in a city fire truck has yet to be used, firefighters need to have it, Matijevic said.
“It’s (electric vehicles) becoming popular thing,” Matijevic said.
Any advancement that helps protect responders is a great addition, James said.
“I absolutely see us using these,” he said. “It’s another tool in the tool box.”