A family in Florida who survived Hurricane Helene say they narrowly managed to escape their home after their Tesla car ignited in the middle of the night.
The Hodges family, who live in Sarasota on the Siesta Key, had a few inches of water flood their home as a result of Hurricane Helene.
Despite coming out of the storm relatively unscathed, their lives were soon in danger once again.
More: Desperation and exhaustion in North Carolina days after Hurricane Helene deluge
The family had unplugged and elevated their Tesla Model X Plaid, which was parked in their garage, after the flooding.
Electric Vehicles that have been flooded in saltwater can catch fire. If you evacuated and left an electric vehicle or golf cart in your garage or under a building and you are not able to get to it or move it, we want you to let us know. /1 pic.twitter.com/dpfiXRAGuR
— Pinellas County (@PinellasGov) September 28, 2024
While most of the household was asleep, two grandchildren heard popping sounds coming from the garage at around midnight.
According to Fox 13, the family described the electric vehicle as a “fireball” when they went to check on the noise.
Footage from the family’s home security cameras showed the electric car catching fire in less than a minute after a blast occurring.
Lisa Hodges told Reuters: “I’m just glad we’re alive, but everything I’ve…We’ve been married 38 years and everything we put into that house.”
“We built it for our family and it’s all gone,” she said.
While the Sarasota County Fire Department ensured the family of nine and their two dogs were all evacuated safely, it took only 15 minutes for the grandchildren’s bedrooms to collapse.
This was quickly followed by the rest of the house, which they had just moved into following three years of renovation.
The Hodges say they were not aware such a small amount of water could lead to their car igniting and causing a fire.
This incident comes days after officials warned that electric vehicles, including cars, golf carts and scooters with lithium-ion batteries, could catch fire if flooded with saltwater from Hurricane Helene.
Tom Barth from the National Transportation Safety Board said: “If the saltwater is able to bridge the gap between the positive and negative terminals of battery, then it can cause a short circuit.”
Tesla advises that if a battery has been submerged in saltwater, it should be treated in the same way as an accident and inspected before trying to start it again.
