Justin Arsenault, the fire chief at Agnico’s Detour Lake Mine northeast of Timmins, said it takes a lot of water to put out lithium ion battery fires, and they can reignite even after they’re doused.
As EVs become more common in mining, Arsenault said, fire crews are experimenting with new technologies to fight fires more efficiently. One example, he said, is a new eco gel.
“We’re just starting to touch the batteries where this gel tends to bind on whatever it is that it touches, snuffing out pretty much anything that it gets to, but also uses a lot less water.”