First Responder Summit:
Electric Vehicle and Stored Energy
May 12-14, 2026
Innovative Learning Classroom Building, Texas A&M University Campus, 215 Lamar St, College Station, TX 77844
Join leading experts at the First Responder Summit: Electric Vehicle and Stored Energy, May 12–14, 2026, at Texas A&M University, for in-depth discussions and training on EV and battery-related emergency response. This summit brings together top professionals in fire safety, engineering, and hazardous materials to share cutting-edge insights and best practices for first responders.
Patrick Durham
Captain and Training Officer, Troy Fire Department; Mechanical Engineer
Speaker Highlight
Patrick Durham: Challenges of Large-Scale Lithium-ion Battery Incidents
Large-scale lithium-ion battery incidents are long, messy and unpredictable. Once thermal runaway starts, there is massive heat, heavy smoke, delayed ignition and the real possibility of repeated flare-ups hours or days later. This session breaks down why these events escalate so quickly, what makes them so hard to control and what fire departments need to understand before they’re standing in front of one.
Patrick Durham is a mechanical engineer and is currently the captain of Troy Fire Department in Troy, Michigan. He has served for 19 years in the fire service, in addition to working on advanced development projects in the automotive industry. Most recently, he designed multi-material battery structures for electric vehicles.
Speakers
Andy Allison
Retired Firefighter, Lewisville Fire Department
Chris Greene
Retired Captain, Seattle Fire Department; Developer of Seattle’s Energy Response Program
Chris Pfaff
Fire Captain and Prevention Officer, West Pierce Fire and Rescue
Dalan Zartman
Chief Operating Officer, Energy Security Agency; Technical Rescue Specialist and Paramedic
Eddie Murphy
Emergency Response Liaison for Outreach, Engagement and Grants, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
Patrick Durham
Captain and Training Officer, Troy Fire Department; Mechanical Engineer
Sean DeCrane
Former Director of Training and Chief of Operations, Cleveland Division of Fire
Schedule of Events
12
Tuesday
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Badge Pickup
Innovative Learning Classroom Building
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
David Coatney and Gordon Lohmeyer
Opening Remarks
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Patrick Durham
Challenges of Large Scale Lithium-ion Battery Incidents
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Afternoon Break/Snacks
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Chris Pfaff
Unmarked Risk: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Hazards
13
Wednesday
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Chris Greene and Andy Allison
Residential Energy Hazards
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Morning Break
10:30 AM – Noon
Sean Decrane
Research Into Fire Service Response to Residential ESS
Noon – 1:30 PM
Lunch
Lunch on your own
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Eddie Murphy
Transportation Related Battery Incidents and Response Resource Information
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Afternoon Break/Snacks
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Jim Kovar
Evolving Roadside Safety
14
Thursday
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Dalan Zartman
Large-Format Battery Fires: Lessons, Tools and Decisions
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Morning Break
10:30 AM – Noon
Sean Thompson and Scott Landcaster
Washington State’s Clean Energy Future: Hazards, Gaps, and Responder Readiness
END OF EVENT
Schedule of Events
12
Tuesday
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Badge Pickup
Innovative Learning Classroom Building
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
David Coatney and Gordon Lohmeyer
Opening Remarks
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Patrick Durham
Challenges of Large Scale Lithium-ion Battery Incidents
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Afternoon Break/Snacks
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Chris Pfaff
Unmarked Risk: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Hazards
13
Wednesday
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Chris Greene and Andy Allison
Residential Energy Hazards
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Morning Break
10:30 AM – Noon
Sean Decrane
Research Into Fire Service Response to Residential ESS
Noon – 1:30 PM
Lunch
Lunch on your own
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Eddie Murphy
Transportation Related Battery Incidents and Response Resource Information
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Afternoon Break/Snacks
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Jim Kovar
Evolving Roadside Safety
14
Thursday
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Dalan Zartman
Large-Format Battery Fires: Lessons, Tools and Decisions
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Morning Break
10:30 AM – Noon
Sean Thompson and Scott Landcaster
Washington State’s Clean Energy Future: Hazards, Gaps, and Responder Readiness
END OF EVENT