Cortlandville Fire Responds to Electric Vehicle Fire on I81 – Fire Luckily Doesn’t Reach Batteries

Just after 6:30 in the evening on Tuesday, July 1st, Cortlandville Fire says they were dispatched to the 47 mile-marker of I81 South for a reported vehicle fire on the right shoulder of the highway. As firefighters were enroute to the scene, they were informed by Cortland County 9-1-1 Dispatch the vehicle involved was an electric vehicle.

On arrival to the scene, firefighters confirmed an active vehicle fire with smoke and fire coming from the rear of the vehicle. Cortlandville Fire says they were able to extinguish the fire on scene with water. The department added the fire did not spread to the battery packs for the vehicle.

Firefighters verified the fire didn’t spread elsewhere in the vehicle by using thermal imaging cameras. The scene was cleared around 45 minutes from the time of call, no injuries were reported. I81 southbound was briefly reduced to one lane. Assisting on scene were the New York State Police and Moreys Towing.