Firefighters near Emigrant Gap in California used about 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish battery in a Tesla semi-truck fire after a crash. The Associated Press reported firefighters eventually called on aircraft to drop fire retardant around the electric truck as a precaution. The airdrop was in addition to the estimated 50,000 gallons of water used to battle the flames. Firefighters at the scene said that the battery likely hit temperatures of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit at the peak of the fire.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent investigators to the site of the Aug. 19, 2024 crash. The accident happened on Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap with a vehicle operated by a Tesla employee from Livermore, California. The scheduled destination was Sparks, Nevada. The NTSB reported the truck veered off the roadway while rounding a curve and hit a tree. The driver was uninjured. Following the crash, the semi’s lithium-ion battery caught fire which led to a freeway shut down for about 15 hours. The reason for the closure was firefighters needed to confirm the batteries had cooled sufficiently to recover the truck. The crash is under investigation.

The NTSB is looking into fire risks posed by the truck’s large lithium-ion battery. Investigators determined the truck was not operating using Tesla’s partially automated driving systems at the time of the crash. A 2021 investigation by the NTSB determined high-voltage electric vehicle battery fires pose risks to first responders. The NTSB alleges the manufacturers’ guidelines about how to deal with such fires were inadequate. Tesla began delivering the electric Semis in December 2022, more than three years after the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, said his company would start making the trucks. He has said the Semi has a range of 500 miles when pulling an 82,000-pound load.

There are unique challenges associated with extinguishing any Tesla battery fire due to the nature of lithium-ion batteries. These batteries store a significant amount of energy in a compact space. When damaged, they can release a large amount of heat and toxic gases. When a Tesla battery catches fire, it’s be difficult to contain for these reasons:

• Thermal runaway: When the battery’s internal temperature increases significantly, it tends to trigger a process called thermal runaway. This can cause a chain reaction, leading to the rapid release of heat and energy, making the fire more intense and difficult to extinguish.

• Toxic fumes: Burning lithium-ion batteries can release toxic fumes, such as carbon monoxide. These gases can be harmful to firefighters and bystanders, requiring specialized equipment and protective gear.
• Deep-seated fires: Because of the battery pack’s complex structure and the potential for internal short circuits, fires can be deep-seated and difficult to reach. Traditional firefighting methods may not be effective in putting out the flames completely.
• Reignition risk: Even after a fire appears to be extinguished, there is a risk of reignition due to the remaining heat and energy stored in the battery pack. This can make it challenging to determine when the fire is truly out.

Vehicle fires may result in devastating damage and may pose significant risks to passengers, bystanders, and emergency responders. These fires are often the result of mechanical failures, electrical issues, fuel leaks, or accidents. Nationwide, over 170,000 highway vehicle fires occur annually and these fires lead to hundreds of fatalities and untold numbers of burn injuries. Materials used in modern vehicles including plastics and synthetic fibers, release toxic fumes when burned. These fumes exacerbate the dangers. This is especially true with lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. Burn injuries from vehicle fires range from minor to severe and can be life-threatening depending on the intensity and duration of exposure to heat and flames. Many of these burn injuries rise to the degree of third-degree burns which destroy deep tissues and often require extensive medical treatment including skin grafts and surgeries. Survivors of severe burns may face long-term physical and psychological challenges, including disfigurement, chronic pain, and emotional trauma.

Product liability laws are written to hold manufacturers, designers, and retailers liable if it can be proven the vehicle had a defect that led to the fire. The types of defects included are design defects, manufacturing defects and marketing defects. Marketing defects fall under the failure to properly warn or to provide adequate instructions.

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