When exposed to high heat, lithium batteries like those in Tesla's can burn for a long time and require significant water to extinguish.

Lithium batteries from Tesla Inc., along with those from other carmakers, have added to the mix of toxic materials requiring specialized removal in the wake of the fires, delaying the fire

Lithium batteries from EVs and hybrids, as well as home-power backups, will require specialized removal in the wake of the Eaton and Palisades fires.

Among the most pressing are the toxic remnants left behind by burned electric vehicles (EVs) and home-battery storage systems, Bloomberg reported. “A lot of the cars in the evacuation area were lithium batteries,