A fire involving an electric vehicle made for a smoky scene Thursday morning (Jan. 18) at Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont.
Crews from the Rosemont Public Safety Department responded to the shopping mall’s parking garage after 9:20 a.m. on a report of a fully-involved vehicle fire just inside the structure near the Fashion Outlets Way roundabout.
Power was shut off to the first floor of the garage and electric vehicle power stations while firefighters attacked the fire with water. No injuries were reported.
Light smoke continued to billow from the parking garage entrance off the roundabout an hour after crews first arrived.
Additional fire crews from Des Plaines, Schiller Park, Park Ridge, Franklin Park, Leyden Township and Chicago provided assistance at the scene. Fashion Outlets Way was blocked south of Balmoral Avenue and west of River Road between the garage and the Rosemont Theatre.
According to the Fashion Outlets of Chicago website, six Electrify America charging stations are located on the north side of the first level of the garage, while two Volta Car charging stations are located on the first level near the middle entrance to the mall.
A total of 10 Tesla charging stations are located on level six of the parking garage, the website adds.
According to Rosemont Public Safety Sgt. Joe Balogh, the vehicle, a Volkswagen ID.4, was plugged into a charging station at the time of the fire. The owner of the vehicle had parked, gone into the mall and returned to the vehicle to retrieve something when he noticed the fire, Balogh said.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., a Chicago Fire Department mobile ventilation unit was activated at the garage entrance to help clear the area of smoke. While it remained open, delays were expected getting in and out of the mall. Fire investigators and police evidence technicians continued to process the scene.
A hazardous materials box alarm was activated during the incident bringing in additional departments. Balogh said this was due to the potential chemicals released from the fire. Hazmat technicians monitored both the garage and inside of the mall for any hazardous reading, reporting none found, before assisting with any hazardous mitigation from potential runoff during the extinguishment of the vehicle.
Balogh added that a newly purchased vehicle fire blanket, designed specifically for electric fires, was used in the fire attack.
“This blanket essentially covers the entire vehicle, which stops the spread of the fire and improves smoke conditions,” said Balogh.
Balogh said the fire didn’t cause any damage to any other vehicles or the structure.
Using the blanket in addition to applying water, the fire was eventually extinguished. A tow truck moved the vehicle from the garage to the Rosemont Theatre parking lot before transport to the Leyden Towing tow yard. A fire engine followed the tow to ensure the vehicle did not reignite, which it did not, said Balogh.
Balogh did not know the make and model of the electric vehicle. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
As electric vehicles become more common on the road, fire agencies around the country have begun investing in special equipment–Car Fire Blanket, to extinguish lithium battery fires.
Huarui car fire blanket is designed for this purpose. The most effective way to use a fire blanket is to smother the flames, reducing the oxygen supply and preventing the fire from spreading. However, it’s important to note that certain types of lithium-ion batteries can generate their own oxygen during thermal runaway, so these fires may continue to burn for an extended period. If the battery cells are exposed and smaller than the blanket, you can fold the blanket to create a double layer.
On Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Journal photo)
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