Fort Worth firefighters battled for almost 18 hours after six electric SUVs were destroyed and two others damaged in a fire at a Cadillac dealership on Friday.
Fort Worth Fire Department
Fort Worth firefighters battled for almost 18 hours after six electric SUVs were destroyed and two others damaged in a fire at a Cadillac dealership on Friday.
Firefighters responded about 5 p.m. to a vehicle fire at the Frank Kent Cadillac dealership in the 3500 block of West Loop 820, the fire department said in a social media post.
When firefighters arrived, the fire was spreading quickly among the SUVs. They realized all the vehicles were electric, which the department said are harder to put out than standard gas or diesel vehicles.
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“One of the issues with electric vehicles is that they have the potential to burn much hotter than an average fire. The batteries of these vehicles are built to be completely sealed off. That is incredibly helpful when trying to protect the vehicle from daily driving conditions but it presents a complex set of issues for firefighters when they are attempting to extinguish these fires. The vehicles are deliberately built not to let water in,” the post read.
Fort Worth firefighters battled for almost 18 hours after six electric SUVs were destroyed and two others damaged in a fire at a Cadillac dealership on Friday. Fort Worth Fire Department
In the photos shared by the department, the SUVs were seen covered in what looks like a blanket. These special vehicle blankets were placed on the cars to hold the fire at bay while other vehicles in the path of the fire were moved away, officials said.
Six electric SUVs were destroyed and at least two others were damaged, officials said.
The incident was resolved about 10:30 a.m. Saturday and lasted 17 hours, 33 minutes. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation, the department said.
“We owe an enormous thank you to our first responders, whose quick response and decisive action brought the fire under control before it could spread to neighboring businesses or the surrounding grassland. Their professionalism, courage, and swift action made all the difference, and we cannot thank them enough,” Frank Kent Cadillac said in a social media post.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Shambhavi covers crime, law enforcement and other breaking news in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. She graduated from the University of North Texas and previously covered a variety of general assignment topics in West Texas. She grew up in Nepal.