• Florida officials have released video of a Tesla catching fire after apparently being flooded in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
  • Little is known about the incident, but the vehicle was partially submerged and its battery pack apparently sparked a blaze.
  • Automakers and officials are warning flooded EV owners to move their vehicles away from structures and other combustible materials.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned EV owners to park on higher ground as Hurricane Helene approached and it’s easy to see why after watching a video posted by Pinellas County. In it, you can see a Tesla parked in a garage that is apparently filling up with smoke.

Seconds later, a flash can be seen beneath the electric crossover. Flames are then visible as a light clicks on, revealing the garage has been flooded. The fire quickly consumes the vehicle, which becomes increasingly hard to see with all the smoke.

More: DeSantis Warns Florida EV Drivers To Park On Higher Ground During Hurricane Helene

Pinellas County didn’t share additional details about the incident, but cautioned returning residents that electric vehicles flooded in saltwater can catch on fire. They went on to advise EV owners not to charge or store their vehicle in their garage. Instead, authorities said to move them 50 feet (15 meters) away from structures and other combustible materials. That’s easier said than done as officials also warned owners not to drive their EVs until they’ve been towed to a dealership for inspection.

While it’s not something you hear about every day, even Tesla warns owners about the danger. As the Associated Press noted, Tesla’s Submerged Vehicle Guidance encourages owners to move their EVs to higher ground if a “submersion event is in the forecast.” If it’s too late and the vehicle has already been submerged, Tesla says to move it away from structures and don’t drive the vehicle until it has been inspected. The automaker also advises owners to “treat your vehicle as if it has been in an accident and contact your insurance company.”

Concern by Florida officials shouldn’t be surprising as the sunshine state was reportedly home to more than 238,500 EVs as of last June. The state is also said to be the second largest EV market in America after California.