CFO PATRONIS: SECURE EVs AWAY FROM STORM SURGE THREAT

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is reminding owners of Electric Vehicles (EVs), and other lithium ion powered devices, to relocate their devices away from areas that may be impacted by storm surge. 

CFO Patronis said, “We saw a number of fires associated with EVs from Hurricane Ian. We know that the saltwater from storm surge can compromise these batteries, causing fires which cannot be easily suppressed. The best fire teams can do is keep water on the battery until the fuel burns out. If you’re evacuating and leaving an EV, or other lithium ion powered devices like scooters or golf carts in your garage, you’re creating a real fire threat for your home, your communities, and first responders. Take this threat seriously. If there’s even a small risk of your EV being impacted by storm surge, move it to higher ground before it’s too late.”  

During the response to Hurricane Ian, CFO Patronis witnessed an EV fire that continued reigniting. According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, 21 fires were associated with EVs from Hurricane Ian. Additionally, the CFO issued a letter to U.S. DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to take steps to protect first responders. The State Fire Marshal’s Office has also been coordinating with public and private sector partners to develop best practices and identify ways to mitigate threats posed by fires associated with lithium ion batteries.

For more information on EVs and first responder safety, visit https://myfloridacfo.com/division/sfm/bfst/ev-fire-safety.

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis  
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and Twitter (@FLDFS).