Operations & Training

CA Crews Handle Tricky Fire at Tesla Factory

March 12, 2021

Fremont firefighters responded to a machinery fire at a Tesla factory involving molten metal, using sand instead of water to tamp down the flames.

By Nora Mishanec

Source San Francisco Chronicle

Mar. 12—A piece of machinery containing molten metal caught fire at Tesla's Fremont car factory Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

Hydraulic fluid, a flammable liquid used to power machines, was identified as the source of the fire, said Aisha Knowles, a spokeswoman for Fremont Fire. Firefighters arriving on scene around 4:27 p.m. were initially told not to use water to extinguish the flames.

The fire was confined to a vehicle stamping machine that contained molten aluminum, Knowles said. The machinery was located in a building under construction at the 45500 Fremont Boulevard plant.

Firefighters and Tesla employees controlled the fire using sand bags, she said. No injuries were reported.

It was not immediately clear where the fire was located within the sprawling, 5.3 million square foot manufacturing plant, which according to Tesla's website employs more than 10,000 people.

Tesla was not immediately available for comment.

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