A Tesla “spontaneously” caught on fire while on a highway, according to the Sacramento Metro Fire District.
Over the weekend, the Sacramento Metro Fire District shared photos of the incident on Twitter.
“Crews arrived to a Tesla Model S engulfed in flames, nothing unusual prior. 2 Fire Engines, a water tender, and a ladder truck were requested to assist,” the tweet stated.
It explained, “Crews used jacks to access the underside to extinguish and cool the battery. Thousands of gallons were used in extinguishment.”
In a separate tweet, the Sacramento Metro Fire District shared a video of the crew putting out the fire.
“The vehicle battery compartment spontaneously caught fire while it was traveling freeway speeds on EB Hwy 50,” the district wrote.
It added, “The fire was extinguished with approx 6,000 gallons of water, as the battery cells continued to combust. Thankfully no injuries were reported.”
The vehicle battery compartment spontaneously caught fire while it was traveling freeway speeds on EB Hwy 50. The fire was extinguished with approx 6,000 gallons of water, as the battery cells continued to combust. Thankfully no injuries were reported. pic.twitter.com/PRmlWzQdXS
— Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) January 29, 2023
Additionally, the district shared firefighting guidelines published by Tesla.
For reference- 🔥🚒🚒🚒 pic.twitter.com/TmnqeoCYwA
— Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) January 30, 2023
This is not the first time Tesla has faced issues with fires.
Sacramento Metro Fire District reported in August a fire from a Tesla on Interstate 80 near Madison Avenue reached the side of the road.
According to the report, one individual was brought to the hospital.
As crews worked to put out the fire, at least one lane was blocked.
“It was impressive to see the amount of destruction that came off the Tesla,” Captain Parker Wilbourn told Fox 40.
He added, “It’s very difficult to extinguish those fires.”
Wilbourn explained when “one battery catches fire, it preheats the next battery, the next battery and the next battery. It causes a fire and it is a chain reaction from there.”
Liza Tucker, consumer watchdog, told the outlet car manufacturers need “to be a lot more specific, and we need many more firefighters to be trained up quickly. And we need the federal government to be more involved.”