A Tesla Model S abandoned in a California wrecking yard caught fire and required roughly 4,500 gallons of water to extinguish earlier this month.
It was the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District’s first Tesla fire, and there were no reported injuries. The car had been in an accident weeks before and sustained enough damage to total it.
Fire Capt. and paramedic Parker Wilbourn told the Washington Examiner the team was lucky it only took that many gallons. Tesla is clear in its emergency response guide that a fire could require anywhere between 3,000 to 8,000 gallons of water to extinguish. In reality, it is more like 20,000 gallons, according to Wilbourn’s conversations with other fire representatives who have extinguished Tesla-involved fires.
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“Working with the on-site wrecking yard personnel, the Tesla was moved on its side to gain access to the battery compartment underneath,” a Facebook post from the district reads. Lithium batteries, which cover 396 to 405 miles, burn at over 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Crews knocked the fire down, but the car kept re-igniting and off-gassing in the battery compartment,” the post reads. “Even with direct penetration, the vehicle would still re-ignite 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.”
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Tesla sold over 158,000 of its 2022 Model S.
