Tesla Semi catches fire on I-880 in Hayward with no crash

A Tesla Semi caught fire on Interstate 880 in Hayward, California, on Tuesday evening, and according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) it happened without a crash. The fire shut the freeway for hours and raises fresh questions about battery fires in heavy electric trucks, just as Tesla ramps up Semi production.

What happened

As reported by Electrek, the fire started at about 5:35pm local time on southbound I-880 near the Route 92 interchange. No other vehicles were involved. The driver got out unhurt and told officers they did not know why the truck caught fire. The trailer, from Premier Trailer Leasing, was badly charred.

CHP closed both directions of the freeway because of the "potential risk of hazardous chemical smoke". Northbound lanes reopened on Tuesday night. CHP had warned that the battery could burn for 15 to 18 hours, but all lanes were open again by around 3:30am on Wednesday, roughly 10 hours after the fire began.

The cause is under investigation, and Tesla has not commented publicly.

Not the first Semi fire

In August 2024, a Tesla Semi burned on I-80 near Emigrant Gap, California. That case was different: the NTSB found the truck had left the road and hit a post and a tree. Firefighters used about 50,000 gallons of water, and lanes were closed for up to 15 hours. The Hayward fire stands out because there was no impact at all.

Why it matters

Large lithium-ion packs are hard to put out once they enter thermal runaway, which is why responders plan for long closures and lots of water. Diesel trucks catch fire too: NFPA data cited by Electrek shows an average of 15,462 large-truck fires a year in the US from 2018 to 2022. One incident doesn't prove a design flaw, but a fire without a crash will get scrutiny.

The timing is awkward for Tesla. Volume production of the Semi started in Nevada this year, and fleets are placing big orders; WattEV ordered 370 Semis in May.

For background on how EV packs age and fail, see our EV battery care guide and our explainer on LFP vs NMC batteries, which covers why chemistry affects thermal stability.