Flooded electric vehicles, scooters bursting into flames after Hurricane Helene

TAMPA, Fla. - Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters kept firefighters from reaching some house fires Thursday night, and the salty storm surge may have been the cause of at least one destructive blaze.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on Friday speculated that a home in the city’s upscale Davis Islands neighborhood likely burned down because an electric vehicle inside a garage caught fire. 

"Water and ion batteries do not mix. They literally explode. So if that was the case of this particular fire, I saw that home from the helicopter and there’s one wall left," she said. "It’s very, very tragic. Fortunately nobody was hurt."

Vehicle fire scene (FOX 13 Tampa)

The exact cause of that fire remains under investigation. According to FOX 13 in Tampa, another electric vehicle on Davis Islands did catch fire, however it was not near the home that burned.

Castor also said added that several of the rentable electric scooters exploded after being submerged by the fast-rising floodwaters.

"Even the scooters – we have so many reports of those scooters that are hitting the water and the batteries are exploding," she continued.

FOX Television Stations reached out to Tampa’s scooter partners Lime and Spin about the mayor's comments. A Spin spokesperson said "community safety is always our top priority," noting that 99% of their scooter fleet had been "disabled and secured" before the storm arrived.

"I want to clarify that we have not experienced any battery-related incidents with our owned vehicles, including during the recent storm," Spin's Bruno Lopes offered. "We hear and share Mayor Castor’s concerns when it comes to the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and saltwater, however, these concerns are more common with personally owned devices, which may not meet the same rigorous safety standards as those in the shared mobility industry. Spin’s batteries are specifically designed for safety and durability, including to resist water intrusion. They are fully sealed to prevent exposure to the elements, ensuring that our vehicles meet the highest safety standards in the marketplace."

Lithium-ion batteries and floods

Lithium-ion batteries power a number of items used every day, from cell phones to laptops, along with scooters, golf carts, and electric vehicles.

Fires involving these batteries and floods are nothing new, but it is an increasingly common danger as more and more drivers choose electric over gasoline. 

"The danger with lithium-ion batteries themselves is that there’s a lot of power in a small little package. And when that energy is released, it’s a tremendous amount of energy and a tremendous amount of heat," said Rob Herrin, public safety information chief for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue in Tampa.

In 2022, Hurricane Ian caused 20 electric cars to catch fire after they flooded with salt water, creating hazards for first responders. 

After more fires followed Hurricane Idalia last year, Florida’s Palm Harbor Fire Rescue issued another warning:

"If you own a hybrid or electric vehicle that has come into contact with saltwater due to recent flooding within the last 24 hours, it is crucial to relocate the vehicle from your garage without delay. Saltwater exposure can trigger combustion in lithium-ion batteries. If possible, transfer your vehicle to higher ground," the agency said.