A lithium-induced fire is particularly nasty, in that when elemental lithium comes in contact with water, it converts the water to lithium hydroxide and free hydrogen, which burns at one of the highest temperatures of any chemical oxidation, much hotter than a fire fueled by hydrocarbons.
Hydrogen cyanide, which is essentially hydrogen combining with the 78% of the atmosphere that is nitrogen, may form, but being extremely light in relation to the rest of the gases in the earth’s atmosphere, rises quickly and does not accumulate in any quantity near the ground.
Meaning a lithium-involved conflagration converts the water (unwisely) being used to put the fire out into fuel for more, and more intense, fire.
So are these EV fires like mini Hindenburgs?
Thanks. So I would imagine a lithium induced fire is probably even less survivable than one caused by fossil fuels by the heat alone. If someone gets into an accident and get knocked out and the battery goes on fire, they are screwed.