**** Update via Halifax Professional Firefighters
Last night at 8:41 PM, #hfxfirefighters responded to reports of a vehicle on fire in a driveway on Hillview Drive in Dartmouth
Our members from Station 17 (Cole Harbour) arrived to find a vehicle heavily involved in fire, with the fire extending to an adjacent vehicle and beginning to spread to the nearby home. A hose line was quickly deployed to protect the home before crews worked to bring the vehicle fire under control.
The vehicle involved was a plug-in hybrid, which presented an additional challenge for our members. Vehicle fires are inherently dangerous due to the amount of combustible material and intense heat they can produce. When a lithium-ion battery is involved, damaged cells can enter thermal runaway, generating extreme heat and potentially continuing to burn or reignite. These incidents can require significant amounts of water, specialized equipment, and additional resources to safely manage.
Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly common in vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools and everyday electronics. A few simple precautions can help reduce the risk:
✅ Always use the manufacturer-approved charger and charging equipment.
✅ Never use batteries or chargers that are damaged, swollen or overheating.
✅ Avoid charging devices near exits or combustible materials.
✅ Stop using a battery immediately if you notice unusual heat, odour, sounds, swelling or smoke.
✅ If a lithium-ion battery catches fire, get to a safe location and call 911.
Our members remained on scene to ensure the vehicle and battery were safely managed and there was no further risk of fire.
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Fast fire response saves Dartmouth home after vehicle fire spreads
Emergency crews responded to reports of a vehicle fire in a driveway last night on Hillview Dr in Dartmouth last night
The call was quickly upgraded to a structure fire, bringing a fast upgrade response by HRFE, as the vehicle fire was beginning to spread to the home.
Crews were able to quickly knock down the fire preventing the loss of the home.
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