Electric vehicle catches fire, causes $200K in damages at Kaysville home

KAYSVILLE, Utah (ABC4) — Fire crews responded to a residential fire in Kaysville that started after an electric vehicle caught fire while it was charging in the driveway.

At 3 p.m. on May 21, fire crews responded to a fire at a home on Vista View Drive in Kaysville, according to a press release from the Kaysville Fire Department. When they arrived, a vehicle was engulfed in flames in the driveway, and the fire extended to the home.

Crews got the fire under control by 3:35 p.m. and contained the majority of the damage to the vehicle itself and the attic area of the garage.

No injuries were reported, but according to the press release, the home sustained significant damage, estimated to be worth over $200,000. Kaysville Fire said that the residents have been displaced and are staying with family.

According to the preliminary investigation by Kaysville Fire, the fire seems to have been accidentally caused by an electric vehicle charging in the driveway. The fire spread to the house from there.

Kaysville Fire stated that the investigation is ongoing, and findings may change.

Electric vehicle safety: What to know

Despite recent cases of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicle fires are not as prevalent as you may think. According to a report that used data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there are only 25 electric vehicle fires per 100,000 cars sold, compared to 1,529 gas vehicle fires and 3,474 hybrid vehicle fires.

However, that does not mean that you should not take appropriate precautions when charging your electric vehicle.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) created a list of best practices for charging EVs:

1. Make sure your charger is listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.
2. Have an electrician inspect your home to make sure your electrical system can handle charging an EV.
3. Make sure that the charger and the charging cord are not damaged before use.

There are two levels of charging available in the home. According to ESFI, level 1 charging uses a standard household plug. ESFI recommended:

1. Make sure your charger has GFCI protection to prevent accidental shocks.
2. Use a dedicated circuit to charge your vehicle, with no other appliances on the circuit.
3. Use a charging cord provided by the manufacturer.

Level 2 charging “provides charging through specialized 240v charging equipment,” per ESFI. They recommended:

1. Make sure it is installed by an electrician.
2. Only use outdoor-rated charging stations outdoors.
3. Make sure that the charging station cannot come in contact with the vehicle.

According to a report by the NTSB, electric vehicle fires pose a greater risk to emergency responders than typical vehicle fires.

In that report, the NTSB stated that fires caused by high-voltage lithium-ion batteries can shock emergency responders due to “exposure to the high-voltage components of a damaged lithium-ion battery.” Lithium-ion battery fires can also reignite after appearing to be extinguished due to “thermal runaway,” which is caused by uncontrolled increases in temperature and pressure within the battery.