The Woodlands Fire Department Responds to Fiery Vehicle Collision Involving Tesla Battery Fire

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- At approximately 9:48 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, The Woodlands Fire Department’s Engine 103 was dispatched to assist Timber Lakes Volunteer Fire Department Engine 141 and Montgomery County Hospital District (MCHD) in response to multiple 911 calls reporting a serious collision involving a vehicle and utility pole at the intersection of Sawdust Road and Woodland Field Crossing.

Engine 103 was the first to arrive on scene and found a vehicle fully involved in flames in the middle of the intersection. Bystanders had successfully removed the driver from the burning vehicle prior to the fire department’s arrival. MCHD medics stabilized the individual and transported him to a local hospital with significant injuries.

Upon initiating fire suppression efforts, firefighters identified the vehicle as a Tesla and determined that the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery pack was in thermal runaway, a dangerous condition unique to electric vehicles. Fire crews quickly knocked down the main body of the fire and deployed an EV fire blanket over the vehicle to help contain any potential flare-ups. Additionally, crews maintained a cooling operation using an unmanned hose line to reduce the battery temperature and prevent re-ignition.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety are currently investigating the cause of the crash.

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