TowNews

Lithium-ion batteries, once ignited, are extremely difficult to douse. After an out-of-control Tesla Model S plowed into a stand of palm trees on a highway median outside Fort Lauderdale last month, police rushed to put out the ensuing blaze using a department-issued fire extinguisher. It was a wasted effort. The car kept on burning after the crash, which killed the driver. The police may not have known lithium-ion batteries inside electric vehicles, once ignited, can’t be put out with chemicals from a conventional extinguisher. The battery fires are susceptible to a self-destructive chain reaction known as thermal runaway, causing a feedback loop of rising temperatures. The Tesla fire stumped a series of first responders in Florida. Firefighters eventually doused the flames with water, which seemed to work, but the wrecked car reignited twice more after being towed away. That prompted what a police report later termed “extraordinary measures,” including a call to Broward County’s hazmat unit for advice on stamping out the fire once and for all. The accident illustrates the challenges faced by first responders unfamiliar with the special characteristics—and hazards—of electric vehicles’ powertrains. Safety experts say the only way to extinguish a lithium-ion battery inside a car is with thousands of gallons of water, much more than what it takes to stop a fire in a typical gasoline engine. The other option is to just let it burn itself out. “It’s such a difficult fire because it takes so much water to put out,” said Robert Taylor, fire marshal in Davie, Fla., where the crash occurred. In addition to fires, emergency responders dealing with EVs face risks from high-voltage cables and silent-running motors. The experience taught Taylor’s team important lessons about dealing with electric vehicles. “For us,” he said, “it’ll be the awareness of auto-ignition of the battery and knowing how long the energy remains in them.” In an emailed statement, Tesla Inc. called the accident tragic and said it had reached out to first responders to offer cooperation. The company also noted that vehicle fires aren’t unique to EVs. “We understand that speed is being investigated as a factor in this crash,” the company wrote, “and know that high speed collisions can result in a fire in any type of car, not just electric vehicles.” While one witness said the car “flew” past him, police said it was traveling at the posted speed limit of 50 miles per hour. With more than 760,000 electric and plug-in vehicles on the road in the U.S., according to the International Energy Agency, emergency responders with little past exposure to these cars are becoming more likely to encounter one at a crash scene. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is already investigating multiple incidents involving EV battery fires and problems encountered by emergency personnel. The agency plans to issue a set of recommendations based on four reference cases by late summer or early fall. “That will be the first major report addressing the issue,” said NTSB spokesman Chris O’Neil. Electric vehicles are no more prone to accidents or fires than gasoline-powered cars—and might be less so, according to a 2017 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That report also notes battery technology is still evolving, without any consensus on safe system design. Battery-powered cars remain a tiny minority in the U.S., with sales of EVs accounting for just 1.2 percent of total new vehicles delivered in the U.S. last year, according to data from Edmunds. But the expectation that EV sales will rise sharply within the next five years makes it critical to educate first responders and develop new standards that make identification and troubleshooting easier for police, firefighters, and tow truck operators. So far about 250,000 of the roughly 1.1 million firefighting personnel in the U.S. have undergone some form of EV training, according to estimates from the National Fire Protection Association. “First responders have 100 years of experience dealing with internal combustion engines, but it’s a very different situation when it comes to EVs ,” said Andrew Klock, program manager for emerging technology at NFPA, a nonprofit based in Quincy, Mass. “Every time an EV catches fire, we get a lot of calls” from emergency management coordinators, he said. The NFPA began conducting training and creating reference manuals about a decade ago just as the Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf were about to debut. It has worked closely since then with General Motors Co. and other automakers to educate first responders about what wires to avoid, where critical components are located under the hood, and how to control battery fires. The NFPA provides check sheets for most makes and models. Tesla also regularly meets with first responders and donates its cars for training purposes. But there’s only so much that can be done once battery cells begin to spontaneously explode. The company’s online emergency response guide notes: “Battery fires can take up to 24 hours to extinguish. Consider allowing the battery to burn while protecting exposures.” One of the first things first responders learn: Never cut an orange cable, a color reserved for wiring in excess of 60 volts. These can be found not just in the front or rear of a car but also running behind side panels. Most gasoline-powered vehicles have no orange cabling at all, since they use electrical charge powered by a standard 12-volt battery. A typical EV operates at closer to a potentially deadly 400 volts. The all-new Porsche Taycan, for example, will boast double that amount of electrical charge when it goes on sale later this year. Higher voltages are part of a trend designed to maximize efficiency and boost horsepower. “We think you could see a world of 1,200 volts” for vehicles in a few years, said Mary Gustanski, chief technology officer at Delphi Technologies Plc, a major automotive powertrain supplier. But she said advanced componentry could eventually do away with most high-voltage cabling. The orange color coding was one early step taken by automakers to aid first responders and auto repair technicians. Other efforts include standardizing instructional materials and advocating three-sided badging on vehicles to help identify EVs. That’s being shepherded by a Society of Automotive Engineering task force, which includes representatives from 11 automakers as well as auto suppliers and government officials. The SAE is expected to update those guidelines later this year with more recommendations, such as using an “e” (for electric) as a prefix or suffix on nameplates of newer EVs. Officials say future revisions may include calls for a kill switch to cut off power under the hoods of electric vehicles. Countries outside the U.S. also are grappling with the issue of familiarizing emergency response crews with electric cars. In 2016 firefighters in a small town in Norway allowed a Tesla to burn to the ground at a charging station, leaving only the charred remains of the frame and wheels, because they mistakenly feared using water could lead to an electric shock. Later that year, firefighters in the Netherlands delayed extracting the body of a deceased Tesla driver involved in a crash due to fear of electrocution if they cut a wire in the car’s frame. In the aftermath of that incident, Dutch authorities turned to one of the leading authorities on Tesla vehicles involved in accidents: the fire department in Fremont, Calif., where the automaker’s factory is located. The department has ample experience responding to EV-related incidents, including a fire at Tesla’s plant earlier this year requiring the full submersion of battery packs in water tanks, said Cory Wilson, a captain at the Fremont Fire Department. “We’ve had several incidents there,” he said. Tesla has donated hundreds of vehicles to the local fire department for use in deconstructive demonstrations of the Jaws of Life and other rescue tools. “We’ve cut up 400 to 500 Teslas over the past five years,” said Wilson. The Fremont Fire Department now has about 50 Teslas ready for the next of its regular two-day classes attended by emergency personnel from around the country. Visiting crews are taught how to safely cut through and demobilize the electric vehicles. Wilson said he accepted an invitation on behalf of the department to teach a special session in The Hague, Netherlands, for Dutch and German first responders in 2017. “Not knowing how to secure an electric vehicle can be lethal,” he said. “We’re fortunate enough to have Tesla in our community.” RESOURCE LINK

Mid-engine Chevy Corvette C8 breaks down at a Michigan gas station Well this is awkward. After years of seeing the mighty mid-engine C8 Chevy Corvette in spy shots rumbling around Michigan and the Nürburgring, we now see it broken down at a gas station. According to the spy photographer, the sports car pulled into the gas station with no issues, but once the occupants were ready to leave, it refused to start. After close to a half hour of trying to start it, it was covered up and a tow truck called to have the 'Vette unceremoniously hauled back to HQ. Any breakdown of a prototype in public is unfortunate, but this is particularly rough for Chevy since reports have been coming out of development troubles. Most notably are electrical issues, which may have been the cause of this car's breakdown. There have also been reports of chassis flex on the high-horsepower models, though that may have been fixed already. We still expect the C8 to be revealed this summer. It will likely cost around $70,000 to start, and high horsepower models will probably break the $100,000 mark. Some sort of V8 will power it, though we're not sure if the base engine will be a pushrod engine or possibly a double-overhead cam engine. We also know that some kind of automatic, possibly a dual-clutch transmission, will at least be available, if not the only transmission. RESOURCE LINK w/video

See the new sports car in a compromising position at a gas station and on the tow truck. RESOURCE LINK

March 06--SAN DIEGO – A tow truck caught fire and rolled backward until it crashed into a fire truck in University City Wednesday. Video taken from a nearby high-rise building on La Jolla Village Drive showed flames shooting from a tow truck. The truck slowly rolled backward into a fire truck that was positioned to block traffic. The crash happened around 11:20 a.m. Spencer Kerrigan was driving near the Crate and Barrel in UTC when the fiery tow truck started moving. “The fire truck shows up and it parks to block traffic, and all the sudden the tow truck starts going backwards on fire! Fireman jumps out of the way and yells to move the truck but not in time,” Kerrigan stated. “I just missed the video of it rolling, but then the Jennings tow truck nails the firetruck!” San Diego Fire-Rescue Department officials said no one was injured in the crash. Traffic was being diverted away from the area. RESOURCE LINK

BLACKMAN TWP., MI – A wayward cat looking for a spot to stay warm trapped herself inside a car engine on Valentine’s Day, but was rescued by a group of mechanics. A woman starting her car Thursday, Feb. 14, felt something was wrong and quickly turned the car off to see what it was, only to find a cat wedged deep in her car’s engine compartment, Jackson County Animal Shelter Director Lydia Sattler said. Not wanting to hurt the animal, the woman had a tow truck take her car to Art Moehn Chevrolet, 2200 Seymour Road, where the mechanics pushed it into a service bay and worked to free the cat, Sattler said. Chevy -- now the cat’s name because she trapped herself inside a Chevrolet Trax -- was handed over to the shelter once she was free, Sattler said. Chevy, a domestic longhair, was trapped close to the car’s serpentine belt. Cats that find their way inside an engine compartment rarely survive once the engine is started, the mechanics told the shelter. “Having the vehicle towed to the dealership saved (Chevy’s) life,” Sattler said. Chevy has injuries that will take time to heal, but she is expected to make a full recovery, Sattler said. Once she is feeling better, she will be available for adoption. That’s expected to take several weeks, Sattler said. The Jackson County Animal Shelter reminds residents to check under their vehicle hoods before driving during cold weather. RESOURCE LINK

Mini-van came loose from tow truck PORT HUENEME, Calif. - A Port Hueneme Police Officer is recovering after a mini-van pinned her underneath a vehicle during a traffic collision. Authorities blocked off a portion of North Ventura Road in Port Hueneme Sunday night just after 7 p.m. when a police officer became pinned underneath a mini-van. “She was shaken up about the incident,” said Port Hueneme Police Sergeant Eric Starna. Officer Gladys Rosete responded to a minor 3-car traffic collision earlier that night, but it quickly took a turn for the worse. Airport Towing arrived on scene to remove a mini-van that was involved in the crash. “During the process of the vehicle loaded onto the bed of the tow truck, the vehicle came loose and rolled back down on the bed,” said Starna. “It collided with another vehicle that had already been involved in the collision, and a portion of the vehicle pinned officer Rosete down on the ground.” “Tomorrow the high way patrol is sending out a tow truck inspector to assist with the investigation to see what actually happened last night,” said Starna. Police say that Officer Rosete was transported to St. John’s hospital were she was treated for injuries to her legs and right hip. She was released from the hospital late Sunday night. Officer Gladys Rosete was pinned by a mini-van that came loose from a tow truck while responding to a vehicle accident in Port Hueneme. (Port Hueneme Police Department) RESOURCE LINK

MOUNT LAUREL - A tow-truck driver was struck Friday morning as he was loading a disabled vehicle onto his flatbed along the shoulder of Interstate 295, police said. The accident, reported at 8:21 a.m., occurred when a Ford E-350 box truck traveling in the right lane of northbound I-295 entered the shoulder, striking the driver and tow truck, said Trooper Alejandro Goez of the New Jersey State Police. The victim suffered "serious injuries and was taken by ambulance" to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, Goez said. The right lane of northbound I-295 in the area of the crash was closed during and after the morning rush hour as police investigated the accident. The Ford truck driver stayed at the scene of the accident, said Goez, who noted the investigation is ongoing. RESOURCE LINK

Wicked weather and wild wrecks From a media release: Battling massive mudslides, whiteout snowstorms, torrential rain, or dangerous rockslides, the highway heroes of Discovery’s most-watched original Canadian series HIGHWAY THRU HELL are set to return for Season 7 with an unprecedented 17 action-packed episodes, more than ever before! Airing Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, beginning Sept. 4 on Discovery, Season 7 kicks off with an exclusive behind-the-scenes episode featuring heavy rescuer Jamie Davis alongside friendly competitors Al Quiring, Ken Duperon, and Jason Davis reflecting on epic recoveries and discussing the various ups and downs they face in one of Canada’s toughest industries. Following the premiere episode at 11 p.m. ET, viewers are invited to pose their questions to HIGHWAY THRU HELL star Jamie Davis in Discovery’s first-ever Facebook Live aftershow at Facebook.com/DiscoveryCanada. Featuring stories of remarkable strength and fearless dedication, HIGHWAY THRU HELL chronicles the lives of these heroic rescue teams who often put their own lives at risk to help keep vital transport highways open and communities safe. Dropping everything to respond, it is their duty to remove the often-dangerous cargo, clean up the twisted metal, clear the road, and get traffic rolling again for thousands of drivers. HIGHWAY THRU HELL Season 7 also sees Davis make a bold move, turning to vintage machinery to tackle modern-day wrecks. Davis’ team is not only tested by unforgiving weather conditions but also faced with the challenge of mastering old iron equipment to combat some of the most spectacular wrecks the crew has ever seen. Discovery primes viewers for the new season with a full-day marathon of HIGHWAY THRU HELL Season 6 on Saturday, Aug. 25 beginning at 3 p.m. ET. Season 6 is also currently available for streaming on the Discovery GO app, Discovery.ca, and CraveTV. HIGHWAY THRU HELL has consistently attracted impressive audiences, ranking as a Top 10 series on entertainment specialty television in Canada for total viewers and the A25-54 demographic. The series has made Discovery the most-watched entertainment specialty channel in its timeslot among total viewers as well as the A25-54 and A18-49 demographics. Toyota returns as the show’s exclusive automotive sponsor, featuring the capable, rugged, full-size Tundra pickup in HIGHWAY THRU HELL’s seventh season. About HIGHWAY THRU HELL Season 7: Jamie Davis is shifting gears once again. After years of keeping the highways open with some of the most modern heavy wreckers – the legendary tow man is staking his future on old iron equipment. At Davis’ yard in Hope, B.C., Classic Holmes tow trucks – some nearly half a century old – are slowly replacing newer, costlier wreckers. For Davis, the vintage trucks are more than just a passion – they represent survival. Under pressure to reduce costs and stay competitive, Davis is confident this winter he and his crew can tackle some of the toughest jobs – on and off the Coquihalla Highway – using an ageing, rebuilt fleet. This winter season, Davis is counting on one truck more than any other – the “Mighty Mo”. After rolling out of his garage at the end of last winter, the beautifully restored Holmes 850, named after a World War II battleship, is ready for war. Known as the most powerful tow truck of its day, the hulking 40-ton wrecker will need to shoulder the biggest jobs as Davis prepares to sell his last modern truck. After a challenging first winter working the mountain passes, former prairie operator Colin McLean is back in Hope for more adventures as Davis’ lead driver. But having run some of the best top-of-the-line hydraulic trucks, Davis’ “old iron” is going to take some getting used to. Each one-hour episode follows the Jamie Davis Motor Truck team as well as their competitors – Quiring Towing, Mission Towing, Aggressive Towing, and Reliable Towing – as they brave the harsh conditions of the Coquihalla Highway. Ready to navigate extreme roads and weather, each team prepares to put themselves on the line in order to keep some of the most economically important and travelled trucking routes in North America open and accessible for all. HIGHWAY THRU HELL is produced by Great Pacific Media in association with Discovery Canada. Executive Producer is Mark Miller. The series producer is Neil Thomas.

On May 17, 2018, the All American Auto Group purchased the Jerr-Dan dealership that was formerly Nussbaum Wreckers and Carriers of Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., creating All American Jerr-Dan. The acquisition consists of the distributorship of Jerr-Dan equipment, service, parts and accessories throughout their stores with Old Bridge being their primary location. All American Jerr-Dan will maintain their selection of heavy-duty wreckers, recovery vehicles, new and used carriers, over a million dollars of in-stock parts, and accessories. All American Auto Group is family-owned and operated by the Savino and the Selman families. The Group’s extensive portfolio consists of many manufacturer awards, including three of their stores ranking within the Top 100 Ford dealerships in the United States, the Ford President’s Award for Excellence in Customer Service for the last two consecutive years, Ford Credit Partners in Quality Award for Volume and Excellence in Customer Financing, and they continue to be within the Top 25 Ford Commercial Truck Sales Volume Dealers in the United States. RESOURCE Tow Times Industry News

A 41-year-old Ware man who was arrested Tuesday and charged with raping three women in Granby is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown. Arthur Salsbury, of 48 Old Belchertown Road, was arrested by Granby police with assistance from Massachusetts State Police and Ware police, Granby Police Chief Alan Wishart said in a statement posted on the department's website. Wishart said the arrest followed tips his department received after issuing a call earlier this month for the public's help in identifying a tow truck and its operator who was suspected of an assault on March 29 in town. Salsbury was charged with seven crimes -- two counts of aggravated rape, three counts of rape and two counts of assault and battery. "These incidents are still actively being investigated and other charges may be filed in the future," Wishart said. RESOURCE LINK

A recovery worker died from a heart attack on a rescue in Somerset on Saturday A couple rented a Mercedes but needed help when the car got wedged in mud Coastguard and recovery service went to recover the car as the tide moved in But a medical emergency unfolded as the man collapsed with a heart attack A man died of a heart attack as he tried to rescue a Mercedes from a beach. The member of the rescue team was trying to move a hire (rental) car wedged in mud. The vehicle had been rented by a couple and become stranded at Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset. A Coastguard team and a local commercial vehicle recovery service were called out to recover the Mercedes on Saturday as the tide moved in. But coastguards say that 'a medical emergency unfolded in front of us' - as a man from the vehicle recovery service collapsed with a suspected heart attack. Despite quick action from three ambulance vehicles and an air ambulance, as well as an off-duty nurse, the man did not recover. Crews from Burnham Coastguard, Burnham Area Rescue Boat (BARB), and the vehicle recovery service were initially called to Brean beach in Somerset at 2pm on Saturday. The stricken couple in the Mercedes had got stuck in mud a fair way out on the beach, as the tide moved in fast and a thunderstorm rolled in over Somerset. The couple were found to be in no danger and were very apologetic. A spokesman for Burnham Coastguard said they, along with paramedics and an off-duty nurse, attempted to revive the man who suffered a heart attack, but were unsuccessful. The spokesman said: 'A person had collapsed with a suspected heart attack. The team mobilised quickly to the person and initiated CPR. Defibs were deployed from nearby including the Brean Beach wardens and from the National Trust Cafe. 'These were used along with chest compressions. An Ambulance First Responder arrived on scene and administered oxygen. 'Not long after the responder's arrival an ambulance and the Air Ambulance also arrived on scene. 'Despite the huge effort from everyone, including the off-duty nurse, an off-duty responder who stepped in, and the great work by the Brean Beach Wardens, the person didn't recover. 'Our thoughts are with family and all concerned. It's been a long, quite tough weekend for the team but as always we are here to help those who need it along the coast.' The Mercedes hire car was recovered from the beach on Sunday, after the BARB team decided they could not beat the tide in retrieving the car safely. RESOURCE LINK

A MAN has died after being crushed by a tow truck in a workplace incident at Dry Creek. The Advertiser understands the victim was operating a vehicle-loading truck when he was crushed between the cab and the trailer loading deck. Despite efforts of emergency services, the Golden Grove man, 64, sadly died at the scene. RESOURCE LINK ADDITIONAL VIDEO LINK