Fire Protection: Raising Awareness of Electric Vehicle Safety Insurance
Under the patronage of the Commander of the General Fire Force, Major General Talal Al-Roumi, and with the participation of a select group of experts and specialists in the field of electric vehicle safety and fire protection, the Kuwait Fire Protection Association organized a dialogue seminar titled “Global Trends for Ensuring the Safety of Electric Vehicles” at the General Fire Force auditorium.
The former Commander of the General Fire Force and chairman of the seminar, Brigadier General (Retired) Yousef Al-Ansari, emphasized that the seminar was held against the backdrop of the increasing number of electric vehicles in the country, keeping pace with their spread to enhance the safety of their users from fire hazards. He clarified that the seminar’s topics explored strategies for securing electric vehicles and mitigating their risks.
Al-Ansari noted that the seminar included an overview of safety requirements for electric vehicle charging stations and their safe operational mechanisms, as well as best practices for handling electric vehicle incidents and fires, emergency response procedures, and discussions on ways to enhance cooperation between government entities, the private sector, academic institutions, and specialists to develop the safety system in the State of Kuwait.
Al-Ansari called for the necessity of supporting national efforts to keep pace with the transition toward sustainable transport means, which provide energy in a manner that achieves the highest levels of safety.
For his part, Engineer Adel Al-Nassar, President of the Kuwait Fire Protection Association, stated that our region in the Gulf is characterized by high summer temperatures, which necessitates adherence to best practices in the use, charging, and maintenance of electric vehicles, as well as compliance with the highest safety standards. He pointed out that the Association was keen to hold the seminar at a critical time, coinciding with certain risks associated with the use of electric vehicles in the Gulf and worldwide.
He stressed the importance of keeping abreast of the latest inventions and scientific developments in the field of fire hazard protection, and contributing to the protection of lives and property, as well as supporting development and sustainability efforts in the State of Kuwait.
Al-Nassar addressed electric vehicle batteries, stating: “These are lithium-ion batteries, characterized by their small size but ability to store large amounts of energy. Any damage to these batteries due to improper use or exposure to unsuitable conditions may lead to thermal reactions requiring preventive measures to prevent ignition.”
For his part, Colonel Talal Al-Fahad, Head of the Chemical and Hazardous Materials Accreditation Department at the General Fire Force, clarified that the importance of understanding and addressing electric vehicle fires is growing in parallel with their rapid global spread.
Al-Fahad delivered a lecture that explored optimal handling of such incidents and how to extinguish their fires using the latest means in accordance with internationally recognized standards. He noted that these fires require specialized intervention strategies and advanced training for firefighting teams to avoid the risks of sudden re-ignition, protect lives and property, and ensure the sustainability of the global shift toward clean electric transport in a safe and reliable environment.
The seminar was attended by a specialized company in electric vehicle fire suppression systems from outside Kuwait, represented by Mr. Adnis Vailx and Ms. Alina Sikora.
