A family in Sanford, Florida, believes Tesla is to blame for their house being completely destroyed by fire. So far, the Sanford Fire Department, which is investigating the blaze, agrees with them.
Mina Raky, the owner of the home and a Tesla Model Y, told WSVN News that he heard pops and crackling coming from his garage at around 5 a.m. When he looked into the garage, he said he saw smoke coming from under his Tesla while it was charging.
“I saw this black smoke coming out, black smoke coming out from everywhere,” he said.
The Sanford Fire Department so far backs Mina Raky’s claim. The department reported “the origin of the fire was found to be at or around the Tesla charging station in the garage.”
Everyone made it out of the home safely, except the family dog
“Just the trauma, we are all traumatized at this point,” said Mina. His oldest daughter almost didn’t make it out of the house. While she was looking for her brother, she got disoriented in the fire.
“I was not supposed to get out of the house,” she said. “After I walk into his room, that is where I lose all sight, hearing; I can’t feel my body anymore.”
She only made it out by jumping out of a second-story window and landing on a screened-in porch.
Unfortunately, the family’s dog, which was heroically saved by a Sanford police officer who went back into the fire to retrieve him, is still under a doctor’s care.
The fire department issued warnings about lithium-ion batteries
The Sanford Fire Department, while making it clear they can’t yet confirm the Tesla as the cause of the fire, still issued a few warnings about lithium-ion batteries.
“Use the charger that is designed for the product itself,” said Sanford Fire Marshal Matt Minnetto. “Don’t let the product overcharge. Pay attention to your batteries themselves and your devices. Look for damage to them, whether it’s blistering on the battery pack, swelling, or just frayed wires.
Also, perhaps of note, the Tesla Model Y recently scored last out of 110 vehicles in a new report, with the highest defect rate in 10 years. Whether there is, in fact, a tie between the Tesla and the housefire will be determined once the investigation is complete.
