Members of a Texas fire department have expressed their thoughts after a Tesla Cybertruck collided with a fire hydrant and subsequently caught fire.
When you think of Tesla Cybertrucks, they often evoke images of a vehicle straight out of a science fiction movie, renowned for its supposed indestructibility.
However, it appears even a seemingly minor obstacle like a fire hydrant can present a significant hazard to these ‘durable and rugged’ vehicles.
The incident occurred on Tuesday (August 27), where a Tesla Cybertruck reportedly crashed into a fire hydrant at approximately 4.45pm between Sam’s Club and Bass Pro Shop near Spur 54 and Bass Pro Drive in Harlingen, Texas.
Following the crash, the vehicle ignited, and a member of the local fire department later described why the resulting fire was ‘not a normal fire’.
Assistant Fire Chief Ruben Balboa informed Valley Central that the Cybertruck caught fire shortly after the collision with the hydrant.
The crash caused water from the hydrant to douse the vehicle’s battery. First responders at the scene noted that despite extinguishing the initial flames, the fire reignited even after they halted the water flow to the battery.
Unsurprisingly, social media users quickly took to their platforms to comment on the potential irony of the situation.
One Twitter user remarked: “The WATER. Set it on FIRE.”
“The water set it on fire? Is Elmo so incompetent that he defies physics?” another commented.
A third user noted: “Now THAT is f**king beautiful. Getting lit on fire by a Fire Hydrant is some next-level dumbf**kery.”
In response, Harlingen Fire Chief Rafael Balderas offered his perspective.
Chief Balderas stated it is the ‘first’ Cybertruck fire in Harlingen that he’s ‘aware of’ and that it differs from a typical car fire.
He told KRGV: “This one happened to hit a hydrant, and it broke loose the battery pack, and it became on fire. It’s known nowadays that these fires take a lot of water to turn off.”
Chief Balderas suggested the fire was caused by the damage to the Tesla’s battery pack from the crash, not from the water contacting the battery pack.
He elaborated: “A regular car fire, you’re there and you extinguish it within five, 10 minutes – you pour water on it, and it’s over.
“In this particular case, the burning is so much hotter from the batteries that it’s going to take more water to cool it down.”
It has not been disclosed publicly whether anyone sustained injuries in the incident.