A Tesla Model 3 recently caught fire, totaling the car, in California City while the owner of the vehicle was on a trip to visit his partner's family.
The car belonged to Ediel Ruiz, who shared with Bakersfield Now that while he was visiting his partner's family, his Tesla app began sending his notifications about the car's alarm.
When he went out to check on the car and see why the alarm was going off, he opened the door and found the interior of the vehicle engulfed in flames, melting his infant's car seat.
Ruiz also said that his partner's "graduation stuff" was burned, including their child's stroller and baby formula.
To make matters worse, Ruiz won't be able to get a replacement vehicle until later this year, around October.
The fire was caught on camera and shows the Tesla on fire with flames bursting the car's windows due to the internal heat. It is believed the fire started beneath the car seat in the second row, according to Ruiz, Bakersfield Now reported.
Luckily no one was in the car when the fire started, and no one was injured from it either. Ruiz shared he was grateful they weren't driving when it happened.
HowItBorke.com founder Robert Swaim shared with Inside EVs that electric vehicle fires are uncommon, but they are difficult to extinguish when they do happen.
Swaim also shared that "EVs within two years of being new seem to have more of a propensity to spontaneously ignite."
The California City Fire Department was able to put the fire out successfully when they arrived at the scene. The department's public information officer David Orr said that he does not see electric vehicle fires frequently. Still, with more people purchasing and driving the vehicles, it could become more common.
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