The National Fire Protection Association is developing a safety-training program to help emergency first responders prepare for the growing number of electric vehicles on the road in the United States. The initiative is funded by a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The training program will include NFPA-developed classroom training courses, handbooks, simulations, Webinars, videos and other computer-based training tools.

Already, the Fire Protection Research Foundation, on behalf of NFPA, has begun to study some of the safety issues raised by electric vehicles. Last year, NFPA was awarded a grant from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to identify and help facilitate best practices and guidelines for first responders related to electric- and hybrid-electric vehicles. Issues examined in the report include the potential for electric shock, vehicle movement, and fire extinguishment and overhaul as key areas of concern for emergency responders. The report is available at the Fire Protection Research Foundation Web site.

For more information and resources about NFPA’s U.S. Emergency Responder Safety Training Program for Advanced Electric Drive Vehicles, visit www.nfpa.org/electricvehicles.