Late on Sunday night, a fire broke out in a lot in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood, causing significant damage to four Tesla Cybertrucks. The incident has sparked concerns about possible arson, as the vehicles were parked alongside numerous other electric vehicles awaiting dealership delivery or pickup.
Images and video footage from a Seattle Department of Transportation camera captured the moment the Cybertrucks were engulfed in flames, with firefighters arriving shortly after 11 p.m. to extinguish the fire. Drone footage from KOMO 4 revealed the aftermath, showing one Cybertruck completely charred, another partially burned, and two others with varying degrees of damage.
While the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) has not confirmed foul play, the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The SFD Energy Response Team was present at the scene due to concerns about potential fire hazards from the lithium-ion batteries in the vehicles. Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have also joined the probe to determine the cause of the fire.
With each Cybertruck valued at a minimum of $80,000, the stakes of the investigation are high. This incident comes amidst national protests targeting Tesla owner Elon Musk for his involvement in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which recently led to significant federal job cuts.
The Seattle fire follows a recent act of vandalism at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Oregon, where an individual was charged for throwing Molotov cocktails and shooting out windows. Authorities are now exploring potential connections between these incidents and the broader tensions surrounding Musk and Tesla.
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the fire was a deliberate act of arson or the result of other factors. The damaged Cybertrucks serve as a reminder of the potential risks associated with electric vehicles and the importance of ensuring their safety and security in storage and transit.