Yesterday morning at approximately 9 am, January 8, 2024, a fire broke out on an electric bus owned by Josephine County Transit while it was charging at the County Public Works Yard, located at 125 River Heights Way. Grants Pass Fire Rescue responded swiftly to the scene, containing the fire and preventing it from causing damage to surrounding structures or other vehicles in the area.
Electric vehicle (EV) fires, especially those involving large vehicles like buses, pose unique challenges due to the high-energy lithium-ion batteries they rely on. These batteries can sustain self-oxidizing fires, producing oxygen internally, which makes extinguishing them particularly difficult.
Grants Pass Fire Rescue deployed four units—Engine-7308, B4, Engine-7354, and Truck-7328—to combat the blaze. Crews utilized specialized suppression techniques, including the use of large volumes of water to cool the battery and disrupt the fire’s self-sustaining reaction. Their prompt and efficient response ensured the fire was confined to the vehicle and did not spread to nearby property.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in connection with the incident. Investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the fire. While electric buses are part of the transition toward more sustainable public transit solutions, this event highlights the specific hazards associated with EV technology.
Officials from Grants Pass Fire Rescue emphasized the importance of training and preparedness in handling EV-related emergencies. “This incident underscores the critical need for specialized equipment and tactics as electric vehicles become more prevalent,” a department spokesperson said. The successful containment of yesterday’s fire serves as a testament to the firefighters’ expertise and readiness.
As the adoption of electric vehicles continues to grow, fire departments nationwide are adapting protocols and acquiring resources to address the complexities of lithium-ion battery fires. Yesterday’s event serves as a reminder of the evolving challenges emergency responders face as new technologies emerge.
The fire also raises awareness about the safety measures and infrastructure improvements needed to support the increasing use of electric vehicles. As more EVs, including buses, become integral to public transit systems, incidents like this will remain a critical learning opportunity for communities and first responders alike.
