Tesla truck battery catches fire, firefighters use 50,000 gallons of water to put it out
In a recent statement, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that California firefighters utilized approximately 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish the flames caused by the Tesla Semi’s battery following an accident. Beyond the significant water usage, firefighters also deployed fire retardants from aircraft over the surrounding area as a precautionary measure.
Firefighters reported that the temperature of the battery fire reached a staggering 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The NTSB has dispatched personnel to investigate the incident further.
The accident occurred on August 19 around 3:13 AM on Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap, approximately 70 miles northeast of Sacramento. NTSB investigators are looking into the fire risks associated with the truck’s large lithium-ion battery.
According to the report, at the time of the incident, the truck was not using Tesla’s semi-autonomous driving system, which the NTSB noted was inoperable and “non-functional” at the time.
The Tesla employee was driving the trailer truck from Livermore, California, to Tesla’s factory in Sparks, Nevada, when the Semi left the roadway during a right turn, collided with a tree, and rolled down an embankment, coming to rest among several trees. Fortunately, the driver emerged uninjured.
Following the accident, the Semi’s lithium-ion battery ignited. Firefighters worked diligently to cool the battery and extinguish the flames, keeping the highway closed for approximately 15 hours to ensure the battery was cool enough to recover the truck.
Authorities later transported the truck to an outdoor facility, where it underwent 24-hour monitoring without any further ignition of the battery.
The NTSB has stated that it is investigating all aspects of the incident to determine the cause and plans to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future. They also reached out to Tesla, headquartered in Austin, Texas, for comment this Thursday.
In a previous investigation that concluded in 2021, the NTSB identified the risks posed by high-voltage electric vehicle battery fires to first responders and noted that the guidance provided by manufacturers on handling such fires has been insufficient.
While the NTSB does not hold enforcement authority, it can make recommendations urging manufacturers to develop response guidelines for extinguishing battery fires, mitigating thermal runaway and re-ignition risks, and detailing safe storage practices for damaged lithium-ion battery vehicles.
Tesla began deliveries of the electric Semi truck in December 2022, more than three years after CEO Elon Musk announced that the company would commence production of the truck. Musk stated that the Semi can carry 80,000 pounds for a distance of 500 miles on a single charge.
