quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

How does one put out such a fire? It would have to be deprived of air, since you can't use water on an electrical, let alone alkali metal that reacts with water, fire. That would mean foam or some method of evacuating or displacing the air. And now firefighting foam causes cancer …

Except depriving it of air won't work either. Lithium-ion batteries release oxygen when they heat up so if they catch fire it is impossible to smother the flames with water or foam.

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
To be fair, your industry is at least partially to blame. NOT poking at you, I know you have to abide by rules. But airlines in general, when they started charging for checked bags created the problem of people trying to carry everything on. When they can't, bags get checked at the gate because overhead space runs out, and "forbidden" items (lithium batteries, etc.) go along with them.

And, of course, as you pointed out, there are a fair share of incompetent morons too.

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
I think about that every time I fly. I always travel with a laptop and it's always under the seat in front of me. It's a bit unnerving thinking about laptops or e-cigs in checked baggage

ALL checked bags go through a TSA scanner...for whatever THAT is worth. I'm just hoping their system is set up to detect this crap that should NEVER (by regulation) be in a checked bag. But I'm probably in pipe-dream land again thinking that ANY .gov organization is competent...

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Except depriving it of air won't work either. Lithium-ion batteries release oxygen when they heat up so if they catch fire it is impossible to smother the flames with water or foam.

Part 121 aircraft are equipped with 2 or 3 "PED Containment Bags". I've never had to use one, but I've heard they're very effective in doing what they're designed to do....contain the fire.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
ALL checked bags go through a TSA scanner...for whatever THAT is worth. I'm just hoping their system is set up to detect this crap that should NEVER (by regulation) be in a checked bag. But I'm probably in pipe-dream land again thinking that ANY .gov organization is competent...

But where that breaks down is I take my rollerbag through security as a carry on, I'm permitted to have that stuff in it if it's carry on, but I board in Group 9 and my there's not enough overhead bin space so they check my bag. Correct me if I'm missing something.

Again, not picking on you, it's just that it seems to me the "system" is based on someone's willingness to take stuff out of their bag that shouldn't be there once it is checked. And as you so correctly pointed out, incompetent morons.

^^^^^^^

Point taken and absolutely no apologies necessary...I know you're just relaying info. In your scenario, it is incumbent upon the gate agent to assure you, the passenger, does NOT have prohibited items in your (now) checked bag that is going underneath. You are correct...there is the potential of MASSIVE break down of procedure at that point. Some people may not even KNOW what kind of battery is in their electronic device, let alone whether or not it's prohibited in the cargo bin of an aircraft.

Ask FedEx (or was it UPS) how that worked out...

quote:

Originally posted by Jelly:
Runaway 500 EV meltdown on cargo ship. AKA The Dutch Oven

"It's a furnace of toxic shit-storm" - that got a solid belly laugh out of me. I like this guy's way with words.

By chance are the burning e-cars causing air pollution?