Tesla catches fire in Fresno Tow Yard (CA)

[TowNews]

Tesla catches fire in Fresno towing company, firefighters say

 

 

 

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A Tesla brought for repairs caught fire and reported to the Fresno Fire Department on Monday, firefighters say.

 

Fresno Fire says they received a call for a car fire at the intersection of Weber and Shields Avenues on Monday afternoon.

 

Upon arrival, fire crews say they saw white smoke coming from a Tesla at a local towing company.

 

Fire officials say the vehicle was brought in for road damage and the smoking started shortly after the vehicle was brought in. The tow truck driver was able to pull the Tesla away from the buildings when the smoke escalated.

 

Fire crews say they were able to evacuate all the people in nearby businesses and no injuries have been reported. Around 30 to 50 people were operating when the incident happened.

 

Firefighters say the vehicle is reported as a total loss.

 

“One of the hazards with these types of vehicles, and even when the vehicle is extinguished, you can see them reignite some hours or days later,” said Battalion Chief Lupe Fernandez.

 

The Fresno Fire Department says they had to let the car burn itself because they were not able to save it.

 

 

 

Tesla catches fire, shutting down Fresno street over lithium battery concerns

 

A Tesla burst into flames Monday afternoon in central Fresno, shutting down Weber Avenue near Dakota Avenue, as firefighters worked to control a blaze in a lithium battery without using water.

 

By 8 p.m., Weber was reopened to north and south traffic.

 

The fire started in a tow yard around 4 p.m., said Battalion Chief Lupe Fernandez. Arriving firefighters quickly realized that shooting water on the battery could cause an explosion, and worked with the tow truck driver to pull the vehicle away from structures. Workers in nearby buildings were also evacuated and the fire department’s hazardous materials team was called in.

 

Also sent to the scene was a Fresno County environmental health team to test water and air nearby. Fernandez said that by about 5:30 p.m., both appeared to be normal.

 

Firefighters were not certain whether the fire had completely consumed the battery, so they opted to cautiously watch the car.

 

Fernandez said lithium batteries pose special problems for firefighters, and there is not yet an industry standard about how to manage such fires. He said it is possible for a battery that appears to be consumed to reignite hours, or even days, later.