According to recent reports, a Tesla burst into flames while at a charging station in Pennsylvania, further fueling concerns about the dangers of EV battery fires. Footage of the incident was captured, showing the vehicle completely engulfed in massive flames as it was parked outside a Sheetz gas station in the Upper Allen Township.
The Upper Allen Fire Department posted a statement on Facebook detailing the incident that occurred last week. “Around 5:50 pm, last evening, Company 23 was dispatched to Sheetz for a vehicle fire. Initial report stated multiple calls for a Tesla on fire at the charging station. Chief 123, Squad 23, Traffic 23, Squad 29, and Tanker 24 responded with the initial dispatch. Chief 123 arrived on scene and confirmed the initial report,” the post from the fire department read.
The message further detailed the efforts emergency crews undertook to combat the fire. “On arrival, Squad 23 crews stretched a line and began fire attack. Once the bulk of the fire was extinguished, crews began the cooling process of the vehicle battery. Traffic 23 was tasked to shut down South Market Street due to supply line hose stretching across the street to the closest hydrant. Traffic 23 requested more traffic units to the scene to assist with traffic control. Team 200 (Cumberland County HazMat) was called in to help with spill/run off control. The towing process was initiated, and crews remained on scene to assist in the possible reignition of the fire,” the statement continued.
The Upper Allen Fire Department concluded the post, thanking the emergency responders who assisted in extinguishing the EV fire. “UAFD would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the companies that came out to assist us with this incident. These are not easy fires to put out and the hazmat concerns they pose are difficult to mitigate. On scene: Upper Allen Fire Department, Upper Allen Police, Mechanicsburg Fire Department, Lisburn Fire Company, TEAM 200, Camp Hill Fire Company, Shiremanstown Fire Company, Hampden Township Fire Department, Penn State Life Lion EMS.”
As the EV market share has continually expanded over the past few years, consumers have discovered several obstacles related to owning this novel automotive technology. One prominent concern surrounding the vehicles is the dangers posed by the lithium-ion batteries, which can be extremely difficult to put out if they catch fire.
The Pennsylvania incident sparked substantial debate from users on social media, centering out the topic of EV fires. “The problem is you can’t even put out that fire it has to burn out !” one person wrote on X. “Insurance skyrocketing will be the death knell of the EV movement,” one person wrote suggesting that the the cost of insuring EVs will eventually reflect the supposed danger the lithium-ion batteries pose.
Another person weighed in, “How many gas cars caught fire last week? We don’t know, because it’s not “newsworthy”. But an EV car at a Tesla charging station owned by the evil Elon Musk. Now THAT is newsworthy! (You are being manipulated by the MSM),” downplaying the concerns about the EVs as an attempt to attack Elon Musk and Tesla.
