SB 5624
In CommitteeSenate
Electric vehicle fires
Developing best practices for responding to electric vehicle fires.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill requires state and local agencies to develop standardized best practices and checklists for responding to electric vehicle fires, focusing on firefighter safety, interagency coordination, and safe handling of vehicles with high-voltage batteries. It specifically addresses how first responders should manage incidents involving electric vehicle collisions or fires, and how damaged vehicles should be transported and stored.
- The Washington State Patrol, working with the Department of Ecology, local fire districts, and towing industry representatives, must develop best practices for responding to electric vehicle fires—including coordination among law enforcement, fire agencies, and other first responders.
- Best practices must include guidance on transporting, towing, and storing electric vehicles involved in collisions or fires, due to risks like battery re-ignition.
- The Washington State Patrol (through its director of fire protection) must create checklists to help agencies coordinate during electric vehicle fire responses.
- These checklists must be made freely available to all fire agencies in Washington to promote consistent, standardized responses statewide.
Who is affected
- First responders — First responders (firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical personnel) who may encounter electric vehicle fires and need updated guidance on safe handling and extinguishing techniques.
- Towing and recovery industry — Towing and recovery companies that transport or store damaged electric vehicles, which require special protocols due to risks like battery re-ignition.
- Local fire departments — Local fire protection districts and fire departments across the state that must implement consistent, standardized procedures for electric vehicle fire response.
- Electric vehicle owners and drivers — Drivers and passengers of electric vehicles, who benefit from improved emergency response safety and reduced risk of injury or property damage during incidents.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (4)
Develops standardized, evidence-based best practices for first responders to safely manage high-voltage EV fires—reducing risk of injury or death to firefighters and bystanders during rapidly evolving incidents involving thermal runaway.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a)Creates mandatory, freely available checklists to ensure consistent interagency coordination across all 39 counties—critical for rural fire districts with limited access to EV-specific training or equipment.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)Addresses the well-documented risk of lithium-ion battery re-ignition by requiring protocols for safe storage and transport—reducing secondary fire hazards to first responders, tow operators, and the public.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(b)Mandates consultation with the towing and recovery industry, potentially leading to new certification or equipment standards that could create modest opportunities for specialized EV response services—though compliance costs may burden small operators.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)
Potential Concerns (1)
Mandates standardized protocols for transporting and storing EVs, which may increase costs and complexity for small towing businesses that lack specialized equipment or training—potentially delaying response times in rural areas where such resources are scarce.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(b)
Who Is Most Affected
Firefighters and first responders gain clear, standardized protocols to reduce exposure to electrical hazards, thermal runaway, and toxic fumes—directly improving on-scene safety and reducing training variability across jurisdictions.
Local fire departments—especially in rural or under-resourced districts—benefit from state-developed, freely distributed tools that level the playing field against EV-specific fire risks, reducing reliance on fragmented or outdated local guidance.
Towing and recovery firms will face new operational requirements (e.g., battery containment, cooling protocols), which may increase compliance costs for small operators but could also create demand for certified EV towing services over time.
EV owners benefit from reduced risk of fire escalation during collisions and more predictable emergency response, but may face longer wait times for vehicle recovery if local tow services lack EV-specific equipment.