Early Friday morning, a Tesla caught fire at a house in Plano. The incident occurred just after midnight, starting in the garage. The car’s owner reported hearing a hissing sound from the battery, recently installed on Thursday. Upon checking, flames were spotted, prompting a call to 911.
Firefighters arrived and quickly covered the vehicle with a tarp, moving it into the street to work on extinguishing the fire. Plano Fire Lt. Daniel Daly praised their quick thinking, mentioning the use of tow chains to drag the car away.
Cellphone footage captured part of the intense battle, with firefighters using hoses and spreaders to lift one side of the vehicle. Lithium-ion batteries, like those in Teslas, have faced enquiry for potential fires, though the frequency is not well-documented. Lt. Daly highlighted the unique firefighting approach required for such incidents—focused on cooling and containing.
The car’s owner mentioned receiving a new battery from the Plano Tesla service center just before the fire. However, it is reported that when inquired at the service center, managers declined to comment. Plano Fire is investigating the incident, emphasizing it’s too early to determine the cause.
Luckily, there were no serious injuries, though the car owner underwent a check for smoke inhalation. The home suffered smoke damage but no fire damage, and another car in the garage remained unharmed. Contractors were on-site Friday to clean up the aftermath.
