To consider the report relating to the changes in Operational Response further to the emergence of Alternative Fuels and Energy Systems (CFO/95/25).

Officer, John O’Boyle, took the Members through his presentation acknowledging that alternative fuels were energy sources used to power vehicles and machinery that differed from traditional fossil fuels like petrol and diesel, including electricity biofuels, hydrogen and natural gas. Other alternative fuels were propane, methanol, synthetic fuels and ammonia. John explained that the biggest challenge would be determining which technology would prevail – whether it would be lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles.

Members were informed of the work John had carried out, including a review of current Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), the revision of eLearning modules, the development of a training package for operational crews, and support in creating command assessments for Crew, Watch, and Station Managers.

It was acknowledged that there had been a rise in e-bike and e-scooter-related domestic fires, resulting in three fatalities since 2023. Members were reassured that the Authority was actively engaged in national efforts to educate the public and promote safety.

It was noted that as part of Home Fire Safety Checks, prevention staff were having conversations with the public to raise awareness of this. As part of a national campaign from the NFCC, the prevention team included questions in their checks to identify households with e-bikes or e-scooters, aiming to pinpoint areas of potential risk.

In order to keep firefighters safe, training had taken place at the Training and Development Academy (TDA), including an electric vehicle event in an underground structure and a session plan had been devised. Fire blankets had been made available to operational crews, and EV Battery Isolators were now part of the SRT and Operational Equipment Team.  There has been a demonstration of an Ultra High-Pressure Lance to Senior Officers, which showed benefits for dealing with fires. The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the system injected small particulates into the water jet and allowed it to act like a drill to pierce through the casing material to reach the battery. This approach aimed to cool the battery and interrupt the chemical reaction; however, it is difficult to identify which individual battery cell, out of possibly thousands, was in thermal runaway.

John O’Boyle highlighted the development of other vehicles across the region including the deployment of hydrogen-powered buses across the Liverpool City Region and hybrid electric buses throughout Merseyside.

John O’Boyle stated the critical need to educate the public about the dangers of discarding lithium-ion batteries in household waste bins. He also informed Members that efforts were underway to advocate for standardised regulations concerning lithium-ion batteries, aiming to enhance safety and ensure consistent practices across the sector.

It was noted that the NFCC were expected to provide a position statement on Fire Safety Risks in Energy Technology on behalf of the sector. This would first be needed to be reviewed by the sector with the aim of achieving an agreed position. Councillor Dave Hanratty advised that he met with the Electrical Safety First Campaign and expressed his support for their campaign. He proposed that the entire Authority support this campaign to advocate for the implementation of appropriate legislation. He also inquired whether the NFCC report could be presented at the next Authority Meeting. The Deputy Chief Fire Officer assured Members that the report could be shared once feedback had been provided to the NFCC and the position statement was finalised, emphasising the urgency of establishing safety requirements promptly.

Councillor Dave Hanratty commented that the government was pushing e-bikes, e-cars and e-scooters to be the future without thinking of the ramifications that the infrastructure and safety measures were not yet in place. He raised concerns around not knowing the impact of exposing firefighters to toxic fumes. It was acknowledged by the Deputy Chief Fire Officer how quick technology and alternative fuels were progressing, which was a new risk moving forward; however, he assured Members that the firefighters’ safety remained the Authority’s priority. He emphasised that the Authority was taking this very seriously to ensure that the risk firefighters were exposed to was minimal.

It was raised by Councillor Dave Hanratty the concern about the safety of elderly residents in care homes who stored multiple mobility scooters together in rooms whilst charging. He highlighted the risk that if one scooter caught fire, they could all catch fire, endangering residents. He advocated for educating both residents and landlords about this hazard. John responded that as part of the Sheltered Accommodation Programme, advice was provided to the Responsible Person regarding the risks associated with storing mobility scooters.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer noted that the prevention advice given to residents could be shared with Members and the Scrutiny Committee. He highlighted the importance of training staff to assess each incident individually and make informed decisions based on the specific circumstances. Members were reassured that the Authority’s firefighters were exceptional and dealt with incidents with the utmost safety and professionalism.

It was queried by Councillor Gill Wood what the life span of batteries was and the subsequent management of these batteries once they were no longer suitable for vehicle use. John advised that the longevity of a car EV battery was around ten years and then they would be repurposed for less demanding applications.

Councillor Dave Hanratty asked that the NFCC report once finalised be brought to the Authority as a recommendation. This was seconded by Councillor Gill Wood.

RESOLVED that;

a)    the contents of the report and accompanying presentation be noted; and

b)    the NFC report be shared with Members at Authority once finalised.