A Florida family who narrowly escaped Hurricane Helene survived once again after their Tesla caught fire and burned their house to the ground.
The Hodges family had unplugged and jacked up their Tesla Model
But around midnight, two grandchildren heard popping sounds coming from the garage and quickly realized the room was engulfed in flames.
The Nest video of the moment shows an explosion that occurs under the electric car and catches fire in less than a minute.
The Nest video of the moment shows an explosion that occurs under the electric car and catches fire in less than a minute.
The fire tore through the garage before beginning to spread rapidly as fire alarms rang and the family ran outside.
The nine people and two dogs inside the home escaped unharmed.
The family later said it took less than 15 minutes for their grandchildren’s rooms to collapse. They were surprised to learn that it only took a few centimeters of water to start such a fire.
Through tears, Lisa Hodges said fox13: ‘I’m glad we’re alive, but everything I have… We’ve been married 38 years and everything we put into that house. We built it for our family and it no longer exists.
Footage from the next morning shows their newly renovated property razed.
The fire quickly reduced the garage to ashes and began to spread when fire alarms rang and the family ran outside. The nine people and two dogs inside the home escaped unharmed.
Footage from the next morning shows their newly renovated property razed.
This comes days after officials issued warnings that electric vehicles could catch fire if flooded with salt water due to Hurricane Helene.
Electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries can catch fire if the batteries short circuit and begin to heat up.
“If salt water is able to close the gap between the positive and negative terminals of the battery, then it can cause a short circuit,” said Tom Barth, chief of the special investigations branch of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s office. Transportation Safety.
Floridians have been advised to take precautions and prepare for the possibility that they will not be able to charge their cars during power outages.
The family later recounted that it took less than 15 minutes for their grandchildren’s rooms to collapse and said they were very surprised that it only took a few centimeters of water to start such a fire.
Gov. Ron DeSantis this week also urged electric vehicle owners to move their vehicles to higher ground before Hurricane Helene hits.
Tesla also offered similar advice, suggesting that if vehicles end up exposed to salt water, they should be at least 50 feet away from structures or any combustible objects until they can be inspected by a mechanic.
