--- title: "Driver Pulls Up Directly to Firehouse When His Tesla Inexplicably Bursts Into Flames" description: "One Tesla driver in Maine brought the fire to the firefighters, after an object punctured the vehicle's lithium-ion battery." date: "2026-08-12" modified: "2026-08-12" authors: - name: "Joe Wilkins" job_title: "Correspondent" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jwilkins" url: "https://futurism.com/advanced-transport/tesla-driver-firehouse-fire-ev-battery" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Electric Vehicles" - "Tesla" --- # Driver Pulls Up Directly to Firehouse When His Tesla Inexplicably Bursts Into Flames ![A photo provided by the fire department shows a Tesla Model S that has burst into flames.]() *Tremont Fire Department* At this point, it's a pretty well known fact that electric vehicles — and, at least in the popular imagination, Teslas especially — have a nagging habit of erupting into flames. One Tesla owner in Maine evidently has that concern hovering in the back of their mind every time they leave the driveway. While driving around the town of Tremont in a sleek red Model S, an unnamed driver hit an object on the road which punctured the vehicle's lithium-ion battery, local station [*WABI5* reported](). As most EV drivers are hopefully aware, any kind of damage to a car's battery can easily spark a fire fueled by [thermal runaway](), resulting in a uniquely dangerous inferno that can be [difficult]() to put out. Luckily, this driver kept their head, driving straight to the Tremont fire station where the high-voltage battery immediately burst into flames, [*Bangor Daily News* reported](). With help from the nearby Southwest Harbor Fire Department, the crew of the Tremont Volunteer Fire Department sprang into action, shutting down the road and dousing the Tesla using an arsenal of firehoses. Based on [photos]() of the incident, it seems the Tesla was totaled, but the driver is said to be doing alright. The Tremont fire comes just days after an [exploding Tesla]() in Seattle sent two firefighters to the hospital. That particular EV was parked inside an attached garage at the time, resulting in a two-alarm housefire that displaced an unfortunate family. All told, if you drive an EV, it's probably smart to have the address of the nearest fire department drilled into your head — especially if it's a Tesla. **More on Tesla:** *[It's Looking Like the Cybertruck Is the Biggest Flop in Automotive History]()* ## Author At Futurism, I focus on the intersection of technology and power — examining the economics, history, and politics behind today’s dystopian headlines. As a writer, I’m interested in topics ranging from AI’s impact on labor to startups nobody asked for. My prior work includes bylines in Jacobin, Verso, and Blue Labyrinths. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Forbes, The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time, The Nation, Mother Jones, The Verge, and Wired. I grew up in Michigan, attending Central Michigan University as well as Ball State University, where I earned a master of music. I now live in Brooklyn with my girlfriend and our cat Ziti. On weekends, you can find me hunched over a cold pint arguing geopolitics with the other transplants. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()