Topic: Fire Hazard

Green Mountain Transit in Vermont removed five new Flyer electric buses from service following a battery recall due to fire hazards. The buses, which are less than a year old, currently sit idle in the snow because they require temperatures of at least 41 degrees to charge. Local agencies are sharing resources to maintain transit schedules during the subfreezing winter weather.

The hosts discuss holiday safety, specifically the risk of hoverboards catching fire when parked under Christmas trees. They also reference a news report from Seattle regarding the popularity of marijuana as a stocking stuffer, including an $80 "comically large joint" that has become a top seller at local dispensaries.

Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles has been converted into a sorting ground for hazardous waste following recent wildfires. EPA officials warned that incinerated lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles like Teslas act as "unexploded ordnance," with the potential to reignite or explode months after being damaged by heat. Local residents have protested the use of the iconic beach for waste processing.

Florida State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis issued warnings about electric vehicles catching fire after being submerged in saltwater during Hurricane Ian. The salt causes corrosion and short circuits in lithium-ion batteries, leading to fires that are difficult to extinguish and can reignite. Owners are being urged to move flooded EVs out of garages to prevent house fires, raising questions about the long-term viability of EV technology in flood-prone regions.

The rapid proliferation of electric rental scooters like Bird bikes raises concerns about the safety of large lithium-ion batteries. Speculation is made regarding the potential for these devices to malfunction or be used as improvised hazards due to their high-impact vulnerability.

A critique of emergency management highlights the failure to shut off the power grid and gas lines in burning neighborhoods, which exacerbated the fires. Reports indicate gas was pouring out of destroyed homes at full tilt, creating massive flames while residents struggled with electric garage doors that would not open during power outages.

An emergency room doctor in Austin reports that hoverboards have become the number one cause of injury in local ERs. While media coverage has focused on the devices catching fire, the primary medical concern is massive head trauma and broken bones from falls. The doctor warns parents against purchasing the devices due to the high risk of severe facial and cranial injuries.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating a series of fires involving hoverboards, which are attributed to cheap lithium-ion batteries made in China. Reports of boards exploding or catching fire have emerged from Seattle, Houston, and Alabama. One host admits to using a hoverboard to transport trash down a long hallway, despite the reported safety risks.