The Volvo was reportedly being charged at the time of the incident
January 3, 2024 at 19:31
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An investigation is underway following a fire that destroyed a Tesla and a plug-in hybrid Volvo in Michigan.
According to MLive, 70-year-old Marvin Boluyt was cooking when he noticed white smoke coming from the side of his house. He quickly gathered up his wife and dog, exiting the building as it became engulfed in flames.
Details are limited, but it sounds like the Tesla Model 3 finished charging so Boluyt unplugged it and began charging the Volvo, which appears to be an XC60 Recharge. Shortly thereafter, a fire began.
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More: Firefighters Use Over 36,000 Gallons Of Water To Extinguish Burning Tesla
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Scio Township Fire Department Chief Andrew Houde suggested the charger may have been to blame, but cautioned it was “too early to tell.” Regardless of what sparked the blaze, he noted the fire was their first involving an electric vehicle and stated “lithium batteries are [a] new challenge.”
Footage from the scene shows the Tesla was completely destroyed, while the Volvo suffered extensive damage to the front end. The house and garage were also damaged, but everyone appears to have escaped unharmed.
While the cause of the fire remains unclear, studies have suggested EVs are less likely to be involved in fires. However, when they are, it can be a challenge as a number of departments lack the training and resources to deal with electric vehicle fires.
That was the case last month when a volunteer fire department had to deal with a burning Tesla Model Y. The department ended up using more than 36,000 gallons of water to bring the fire under control as opposed to the 300 to 1,000 gallons required to extinguish a traditional vehicle.
Thanks to Paul for the tip!
