National Transportation Safety Board News

A maintenance error caused an engine room fire aboard the Endo Breeze in 2022, resulting in $1.2 million in damages, the National Transportation Safety Board said on November 29, 2023. fire containment On April 29, 2022, the Endo Breeze was transiting outbound through the Raritan Bay West Reach channel near Staten Island, New York, when oil spray from a fuel injector pump on the starboard main engine ignited off nearby hot surfaces, causing a fire.  The crew of the Endo Breeze contai...

In the face of mounting pressure from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and others, Newark, New Jersey, officials recently proposed several safety measures after two fire fighters – Augusto “Augie” Acabou and Wayne “Bear” Brooks Jr. – died responding to a July cargo ship fire. The suggested changes reported by NJ.com, the state’s largest news and information site include: creating a special joint task force to consider legislative an...

In incidents involving electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries, responders face safety risks related to: Electric shock. Thermal runaway. Battery ignition and reignition. Stranded energy. Electric vehicle design is different for various makes and models. For safe and effective vehicle extrication, rescue, and fire suppression, responders need practical and accurate emergency response guidance specific to the unique features of each electric vehicle. Standardization ERGs that...

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is seeking to address fire dangers from electric vehicles that use high-voltage lithium-ion batteries. At risk are first responders who may be injured by electric shock or uncontrolled increases in temperature and pressure that can reignite the batteries. The risk of shock and fire arises from the ‘stranded’ energy that remains in a damaged battery, says the NTSB. A safety report from the U.S. federal agency documents their investigati...