Retired Everett Fire Capt. designs device to battle EV fires

By Tara Vocino

Like many firefighters, a firefighting passion runs in Gerry O’Hearn’s family.

The retired Everett Fire Captain may not work in Everett anymore, but he hasn’t stopped thinking of the industry. The Peabody resident has invented what he calls a “Gerry Pipe” to safely neutralize electric vehicle fires by cooling the battery down to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

O’Hearn’s neighbor, Jamie Jalbert, made a pipe designed to be placed underneath the engine from a safe distance to apply 300 gallons of water per minute, once connected to a fire hydrant. O’Hearn displayed that outside of his home last Friday afternoon. While Jalbert made the device, O’Hearn designed it.

“It took me about a month to design it,” O’Hearn said. “I’m working on a patent, which would initially cost about $30,000.”

In addition to the pipe, O’Hearn teaches a safety course to protect firefighters. “The old can help the young,” O’Hearn said. “You have to be a team player.”

According to O’Hearn, the mechanism can be assembled in three minutes due to the long distance of the pipe. He garnered the items from antique stores.

His father, Joseph, worked for the department for 35 years. Gerry was the Captain of Engine 2 Hancock Street Station for 20 years. He came up with the idea after reading a newspaper article where firefighters weren’t well informed on how to extinguish electric vehicle fires.

For information, call 617-771-0632.