Emergency Response to Electric Vehicles in Parking Structures
Chris Soda
Thursday, June 12, 2025
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Emergency Response to Electric Vehicles in Parking Structures teaches first responders the dangers and provides the tactics to deal with electric vehicle fires in parking structures. Parking structures pose many challenges for first responders as they encounter low ceiling heights, sloped floors, high temperatures, thick smoke spread, running fuel fires and the potential for structural collapse. This class aims to demonstrate to first responders’ tactics that can be used to successfully mitigate an electric vehicle fire in a parking structure. Electric vehicles require different tactics and strategies when compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. These types of incidents require adaptability and resourcefulness from the firefighters as they navigate the maze-like structure of the parking garage. Students will leave with an understanding of how to mitigate an incident involving an electric vehicle successfully and safely in a parking structure.
Chris Soda
Chris Soda is a 17-year member of the Chicago Fire Department where he is currently assigned in the 4th District as a relief lieutenant. Chris also teaches at Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA) where he is the program coordinator for the Vehicle Machinery Operations and Technician programs. In addition to teaching at NIPSTA, Chris has also been an instructor for the Chicago Fire Department, Quinn Fire Academy, teaching candidate firefighter vehicle extrication. Chris is the owner of Junkyard Dog Extrication Training teaching Emergency Response to Electric Vehicles and vehicle extrication to first responders.
