Tesla Model S Catches Fire Spontaneously on California Highway; Battery Car Allegedly Caused the Problem

A Tesla Model S unexpectedly caught fire while driving on a highway in California, according to the Sacramento Metro Fire District. The driver, traveling at high speeds, noticed thick black smoke coming from the car's underside and could pull over and evacuate safely.

However, the fire quickly spread and consumed the front part of the vehicle. Firefighters had to use jacks to access the burning lithium-ion battery of the Tesla and put out the fire. Despite the efforts, it took a significant amount of time and resources to put out the fire completely.

It required 6,000 gallons of water from three fire trucks over an hour as the battery cells of the Tesla continued to ignite. In comparison, a conventional vehicle fire can be put out using 700 gallons of water from a single fire engine.

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. Crews used jacks to access the underside to extinguish and cool the battery. Thousands of gallons were used in extinguishment. pic.twitter.com/5dIXxo9hP5
— Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) January 29, 2023

Blasting Burning Battery?

Lithium-ion battery fires are difficult to control due to the flammable materials, such as graphite and electrolytes, and the oxygen released by the burning cathodes, making the fires persist. This is why fire foam, typically used to put out fires, is ineffective for extinguishing these types of fires, according to the district in a tweet.

The cause of the spontaneous fire in the Tesla battery remains unknown, as the vehicle had no prior damage, according to the firefighters. Normally, lithium battery fires are triggered by collisions, but a short circuit or high temperatures could also lead to combustion. Tesla vehicles have a history of catching fire without warning. In response to several incidents of parked Teslas bursting into flames in 2019, the company released a software update to enhance the batteries' safety.

According to Sacramento Metro Fire Captain Parker Wilbourn, when one battery catches fire, it heats the next one and creates a chain reaction of fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also investigating an incident involving a Tesla, which resulted in a road closure and 16 people being injured, including eight minors, as reported by The Hill.

(Photo: Sacramento Metro Fire District)
Sacramento firefighters respond to a fire after a Tesla car battery "spontaneously" burst into flames.

ALSO READ: Tesla 'Full Self-Driving' Malfunction on Snowy Road in Detroit Captured in Video Footage

Rare Occurrences?

The incident occurred on the Bay Bridge in San Francisco on Thanksgiving and was captured on video, showing a Tesla Model S moving into the fast lane before suddenly stopping. The sudden deceleration, which occurred while the vehicle was in Full Self-Driving mode, led to a pile-up of eight cars.

In 2021, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) decided not to launch an investigation into the fires in Tesla car batteries, labeling them as "rare occurrences." Research has revealed that electric vehicles have a lower chance of catching fire than gasoline or hybrid-electric vehicles, but when they do, they burn hotter and longer.

Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, stated that only 0.01% of Tesla cars have ever experienced a fire. This rate is lower than the annual average of 0.08% for all passenger and heavy-duty vehicles, as reported by NHTSA and the National Fire Protection Association, following NBC News.