Madrid, February 1, 2026 – The Madrid City Fire Department has expressed growing concern over the increasing number of dangerous electric car fires, with firefighters now tackling a minimum of two such incidents in the capital every month. While acknowledging that these fires are linked to the poor condition of electric car batteries, firefighters emphasize that the direct cause lies with deficient charging installations and improper battery charging habits.
Faulty Charging and User Misuse: The Core Issues
“It is true that the fires are due to the poor condition of electric car batteries, but the direct fault lies with deficient charging installations and poor habits for charging car batteries,” stated a fire department spokesperson. They clarified that the firefighters do not blame the electric vehicles themselves.
The primary causes identified include charging installations that lack the appropriate characteristics, whether in private homes, community garages, or public charging stations. “Many of these installations do not comply with regulations, which, in itself, are not very comprehensive. They lack sufficient power, do not reinforce the electrical system for charging the car, or the installations do not comply with safety standards,” explained specialized sources.
Another significant factor is the overuse of battery charging. “Cars are not charged as they should be to preserve battery safety. They are overused, deteriorate, and end up burning, generating a complicated and very dangerous fire,” they added.
Challenges in Combating Electric Vehicle Fires
Firefighters admit that they currently lack the ideal material resources to effectively combat these types of fires. “With the means we currently have, we cannot tackle these battery fires as we would like. There are no ideal material means to deal with them. The only thing we can do is try to cool them to reduce the high temperatures produced in the cell that has caught fire and prevent the rest from being affected.”
A significant associated risk with these fires is the re-ignition of batteries. “For this reason, we act preventively and remove the vehicle from the garage, taking it to a municipal depot where it is guarded,” the Madrid City Fire Department warned on social media.
Lack of Information and Regulation
Firefighters perceive a general lack of information among users regarding the proper use and maintenance of electric cars, coupled with insufficient regulations. “The Horizontal Property Law already states that a community of neighbors’ permission is not required to install an electric car charger; it is enough to announce it and provide them with the project. This is how we find chargers on the third or fourth basement floors,” sources added.
Scooters Pose a Greater Danger
Interestingly, firefighters believe that electric scooters pose a greater danger than electric cars. “Scooters are more dangerous because they do not undergo any control, unlike cars. An electric car is safe if the manufacturer’s instructions are followed, with adequate charging points that do not overheat the line. Scooters, as soon as kids change the motherboard to go faster, are a bomb on wheels.”
Reports of incidents support this claim, with several fatal accidents caused by scooters charging at home entrances, blocking escape routes for victims in case of fire. “Not to mention the impacts on the poorly protected batteries of scooters,” they emphasized.
The Growing Concern: Chemical Battery Fires
While the number of electric car fires was lower in the past, the current concern is not just the frequency but the complexity of extinguishing them. Firefighters acknowledge that there is no effective method to extinguish chemical battery fires. Their mission is to prevent the spread of flames, control the fire, and allow it to burn out without causing casualties. For now, this is the only approach, and the number of electric vehicle fires in Madrid continues to increase.
Source: okdiario.com
