There is no need for water or foam. Mostly.
Car fires can quickly escalate into a frightening situation. It can happen to electric and combustion cars. An Tesla accident resulted in firefighters using 32,000 gallon water to extinguish a flame. However, a Norwegian company called Bridgehill has a better solution: a fire blanket that fits over an entire vehicle. The blanket works by covering the flames and denying the fire oxygen.
Car fires can also be dangerous. There are countless chemicals that escape into the environment, and toxic smoke filling the air. Firefighters attempt to extinguish the fire with water. According to the company, the blanket can extinguish the fire within minutes and helps to eliminate some of these hazards. The blanket is not recommended for use with electric vehicles that have lithium batteries. However, it can be used to keep the fire from spreading until firefighters arrive.
It measures 6 meters (19 feet) by eight meters (26ft), and can cover a variety of makes and models. It is 28 kg (61 lbs) in weight. Simply spread the blanket out on the ground and pull it up over the vehicle. To ensure that the fire is out, the company suggests leaving the blanket on the vehicle for at least 20 minutes and only allowing qualified firefighters to take it off.
There are two types of blankets available from the company: Pro and Standard. The Standard blanket looks like a single-use product, and is intended for areas with high car numbers such as garages or repair shops. The Pro can be used for up to 30 car fires. This makes it ideal for firefighters and safety groups. Although it is not an all-purpose tool for fighting car fires, the Pro can help reduce damage until professionals arrive. One car fire can cause extensive damage to surrounding properties, which is never good.