Robot-style fire equipment will be trialled in WA over the next 12 months to combat any possible EV fires

Robot-style fire equipment will be trialled in WA over the next 12 months to combat any possible electric vehicle fires on WA roads.

The robotic fire equipment and other groundbreaking fire suppression devices are some of the new technology systems being tested and trialled by WA firefighters.

It’s hoped the new machines being trialled will combat “complex firefighting operations” - such as potential electric vehicle fires.

Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson and DFES boss Darren Klemm got a first-hand look at some of the new equipment being tested at DFES’ Forrestfield training academy on Saturday.

A remote-controlled firefighting robot - of which there are two in WA at the moment that will be tested over the next 12 months - was among the new machines that were put through their paces during a training exercise.

EV lithium-ion battery fires are considered one of the most challenging fires for crews to put out because they omit highly flammable vapour and jet-like flames that can reach temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Celsius.

It can take several hours for such fires to be fully extinguished.

While there are around 180,000 EVs on Australian roads at the moment - there have been no recorded EV fires in Western Australia.

But Mr Dawson said it was crucial that DFES and WA remained ahead of the game, which is why the new technology was being trialled now.

“Its important that we use the best technology to help our firefighters to keep them safe and to enable them to be ahead of technological advancements,” he said.

“As the world races towards 2050, there will be a growing need for us all to have electric vehicles, so its really important ... that we have technology available to help our firefighters get those fires out as quickly as possible.”