- A fire broke out at a Tesla storage lot in Seattle, burning four Cybertrucks overnight.
- Firefighters contained the blaze, but investigators have yet to determine what caused it.
- The fire comes as Tesla faces backlash, protests, and rising security threats nationwide.
Electric vehicle fires always spark questions, but when they involve a high-profile brand like Tesla that’s been making headlines for all the wrong reasons the past few weeks, speculation ramps up fast. Late Sunday night, a fire broke out in a Tesla storage lot in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood, engulfing what appeared to be four brand-new Cybertrucks.
According to the Seattle Fire Department (SFD), the blaze started around 11 p.m. at a facility on 4th Avenue South near South Spokane Street. Firefighters worked quickly to contain the flames, bringing the situation under control by 1 a.m. Monday and preventing further damage beyond the four affected electric trucks.
Once the flames were out, SFD’s Energy Response Team was called in to assess any lingering risks from the Cybertrucks’ lithium-ion batteries, according to a report from Seattle’s King5. While Tesla has dealt with battery-related fire incidents before, it’s unclear whether this particular blaze was caused by a battery malfunction or something else entirely.
Screenshot Choeshow / YouTube
Independent journalist Jonathan Choe, who was at the scene filming, asked a firefighter if arson was suspected. The firefighter responded, “It’s too early to tell.”
The four charred Cybertrucks were quickly hauled away, and investigators are still working to determine what exactly happened.
A Tesla Fire at a Tense Time
Whether this fire was a freak accident or a deliberate act remains unclear, but what we do know is that it comes at a time when Tesla is under increasing scrutiny. Its CEO, Elon Musk, has been at the center of controversy, particularly due to his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration initiative responsible for sweeping federal layoffs and budget cuts.
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These actions have sparked widespread protests at Tesla dealerships nationwide, with the brand’s stores, charging stations, and even private vehicles increasingly targeted in attacks.
Just last week, gunshots were reported at a Tesla dealership in Tigard, Oregon. Another dealership in Salem saw an arrest for a similar attack. Meanwhile, a Boston man was accused of plastering anti-Elon Musk stickers on Teslas, and authorities believe arson was behind the torching of seven Tesla Supercharger stations in Littleton, Massachusetts—all within the span of a single week.