The Sacramento Metro (CA) Fire Department recently took to social media to share its firefighters‘ experience in battling the agency’s first Tesla fire.
The vehicle was fully involved with fire on arrival, and took a significant amount of time, water, and thinking outside the box to extinguish. Crews knocked the fire down, but the car kept reigniting and off-gassing in the battery compartment. Working with the on-site wrecking yard personnel, the Tesla was moved on its side to gain access to the battery compartment underneath. Even with direct penetration, the vehicle would still reignite due to the residual heat.
Crews and on-site personnel then created a small pit, placed the car inside it, and filled the pit with water effectively submerging the battery compartment. The pit ultimately reduced the total amount of water needed, estimated at 4,500 gallons, and limited the runoff of contaminated water. The vehicle was fully extinguished, and no injuries were reported.
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