I am writing in response to the Gazette article regarding local fire departments training for electric vehicle (EV) fires [“Firefighters prep to meet ‘unique challenge’ as electrical vehicles gain popularity,” April 1]. I was very pleased to learn that our fire departments are preparing for the inevitable EV future. I would like to add a couple of points however. First, EV fires are extremely rare, significantly fewer than fires in gasoline powered vehicles. According to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), for example, 0.08 percent of gasoline-powered vehicles catch fire each year, versus 0.004 percent of battery-powered vehicles.

Second, your wise advice about getting out of and away from the vehicle quickly applies to any vehicle fire. You don’t want to be anywhere near a gasoline fire, either. You quoted Department of Fire Services spokewman Jake Wark as saying, “Realistically, these fires are beyond the average motorist’s ability to handle.”

A number of years ago I witnessed a parked (gasoline-powered) Datsun with a wisp of smoke emerging from the engine. A good Samaritan truck driver stopped and went to work with his large fire extinguisher. Despite his attempts, the entire car was soon engulfed in flames. It took a fire engine and crew to put out that raging gasoline fire.

Robert Salthouse, EV owners and associate chair of South Hadley Sustainabiliy and Energy Commission

South Hadley