Tesla Semi Fire Highlights Battery Safety Concerns

California firefighters used 50,000 gallons of water and fire retardant to extinguish a Tesla Semi fire caused by a crash. The NTSB is investigating the fire risks posed by large lithium-ion batteries, with plans to issue safety recommendations. The incident highlighted the need for better guidelines for handling electric vehicle fires.

In an alarming incident, California firefighters were compelled to utilize approximately 50,000 gallons of water to douse a blazing battery in a Tesla Semi, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported on Thursday.

Firefighters, aided by an aircraft dropping fire retardant, battled flames that emerged after a crash involving the electric truck. The battery's temperature surged to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (540 Celsius) during the fire.

The NTSB dispatched investigators to the August 19 crash site on Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap, northeast of Sacramento. The large lithium-ion battery of the truck, not using Tesla's partially automated driving systems at the time, is the focus of the investigation to assess fire risks.

(With inputs from agencies.)