Vehicle fires are all too common in the city - but what happens when an e-vehicle catches on fire. It runs on batteries so has no fuel - but such fires can still pose a formidable threat.
And now The Ministry of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, through the National Fire Service, has begun specialized training to improve Belize's ability to respond to fires involving electric buses and other electric vehicles.
Firefighters from stations across the country are taking part, alongside key partners in Belize's e-mobility transition, including the Belize City Council, Westline, Caribbean Motors, and the Department of Transport.
The hands-on training is being led by a Netherlands-based company that produces fire-suppression blankets designed for high-intensity and lithium-ion battery fires.
Six fire stations nationwide will receive fire blankets, electric vehicle disabling equipment, and thermal imaging cameras to improve fire detection and response. The initial investment for training and equipment at four stations is estimated at thirty-seven thousand US dollars, with additional resources to follow.
