Amsterdam Fire Brigade Throws Burning E-Scooter into Canal to Extinguish Fire: Effective Technique?

The Amsterdam fire brigade threw a burning e-scooter into the canal this afternoon to extinguish the flames. Bystanders were surprised, reports AT5. But according to the fire service, this is the most effective way of extinguishing.

“Electric vehicles require a different extinguishing technique. There is a chance that the battery will catch fire again,” he says. “Such a vehicle must be cooled for a longer period of time to ensure that the fire does not flare up again.”

The electric scooter caught fire on Oudezijds Voorburgwal around 1:30 p.m. due to an unknown cause. The fire brigade was quick, tied a rope to the scooter and then threw it into the canal.

The spokesperson says that in case of fires in electric vehicles, a so-called water immersion container. In such container the scooter or car can be completely submerged. “But sometimes the solution is much simpler, if there is water nearby,” he says.

According to the spokesman, the scooter will be removed from the canal at a later time.