Tesla Incinerates at Pennsylvania Supercharger Station

In Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, a Tesla vehicle caught fire at a Supercharger Station, prompting a swift response from local firefighters.

The Upper Allen Fire Department reported the incident on Facebook, sharing images of the vehicle reduced to a charred shell.

Firefighters responded to the scene around 6 PM on Monday after receiving reports of a vehicle fire at a Sheetz fueling station. Upon arrival, they found the Tesla engulfed in flames. After extinguishing the primary blaze, they focused on cooling the electric vehicle's battery pack with additional water, with the local hazmat unit assisting in controlling any spill or runoff.

Photos from the site reveal the Tesla, now a blackened husk, parked next to the Supercharger Station. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Fire Safety Concerns

The fire department's Facebook post did not specify the fire's cause, but the incident underscores the particular hazards associated with electric vehicle fires. While such incidents are less frequent than those involving fossil-fuel-powered cars, EV fires require special attention due to the risk of the battery pack reigniting days after the initial fire.

According to Fire Captain Peter Rocco of Hackensack, New Jersey, "The battery can go into thermal runaway, continuously generating heat. Cooling it down can take hours, often requiring a continuous flow of water."

For instance, a March fire in Hackensack involving an EV necessitated hours of firefighting efforts and copious amounts of water to cool the battery pack. Moreover, smoke from an EV fire can be particularly hazardous.

Safety Advice

If you find yourself in an electric vehicle fire, a regular fire extinguisher will not suffice. The best course of action is to exit the vehicle immediately and contact the fire department for professional assistance.