I was thinking about that boat fire amongst others.  LiFePO4 certainly is safer - good to know.  Puncturing has more rapid consequences than shorting.  I've witnessed two lead acid fires.  I happened to be near by when a mechanic was welding the chassis of a vehicle belonging to me with a non sealed battery charging near by.  The explosion was deafening, acid everywhere and a fire with a fuel source.  The other was a short in a 4x4 I'd just purchased.  Perhaps LiFePO4 is safer than some existing alternatives.

That said, the aluminium-ion battery can be punctured whilst in use with no adverse consequences other than declining voltage.  Eventually, this battery is tipped to be a fraction of the price of the lithium equivalent.  Could be some years though, even if commercialisation proceeds forethwith.

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