| The City of Norwalk Fire Department responded to a reported charging station fire on Saturday, October 7th, 2023 at 7:38 am.
The fire was located in the parking garage of the SONO Collection, which is a 700,000 square-foot shopping mall located on North Water St.
Initial reports stated there was a fire involving a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)/ Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) charging station inside the parking garage.
Fires involving lithium ion technology and their associated charging equiptment and accessories are on the rise nationally. Incidents involving lithium ion technology are uniquely challenging and hazardous for firefighters as this technology is rapidly evolving and we continue to learn what works and what doesn’t work.
Upon arrival, Car 2 (shift commander) encountered smoke coming from an upper floor on the back side of the parking garage. First arriving NFD Local 830 firefighters found a fire involving an Electric Vehicle charging station. There were no vehicles in the parking garage at the time of the incident. Power to the charging station was secured and the fire was extinguished in 10 minutes.
A first alarm assignment consisting of 3 Engine Companies, 2 Ladder Companies, 1 Heavy Rescue Company, and the shift commander totaling 25 fire personnel operated on scene.
The two remaining NFD Engine Companies with 8 Norwalk Professional Firefighters covered the rest of the city during this incident.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Norwalk Fire Marshall’s Division. |
