First Responder Summit:
Electric Vehicle and Stored Energy
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.
12
Tuesday
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
Andy Allison
Lewisville Fire Department
Chris Greene
Seattle Fire Department
Chris Pfaff
West Pierce Fire and Rescue
Dalan Zartman
Energy Security Agency
Eddie Murphy
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
James Kovar
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Patrick Durham
Troy Fire Department
Sean DeCrane
Cleveland Division of Fire
Dr. Sean Thompson
Washington State Department of Ecology
Scott Landcaster
Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office
Speaker Highlight
Patrick Durham: Challenges of Large-Scale Lithium-ion Battery Incidents
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.
Speaker Highlight
Chris Pfaff – Unmarked Risk: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Hazards
Speaker Highlight
Chris Pfaff – Unmarked Risk: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Hazards
Drawing from real-world incidents, this session examines how alternative fuel vehicles often lack clear markings, with stickers or symbols that can be obscured or destroyed in emergencies. We’ll review national and international vehicle identification standards and provide practical approaches for quick hazard recognition.
Chris Pfaff is a fire captain and prevention officer at West Pierce Fire and Rescue, with 20 years of experience as a firefighter, engineer, rescue technician and hazmat technician. He collaborates with multiple organizations to advance research on battery safety and is the lead instructor for Hazmat and Rescue and the compliance manager at InSource Fire Training and Consulting.