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Topics: Cars, Cybertruck , Tesla, US News, Texas, Social Media
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Cars, Cybertruck , Tesla, US News, Texas, Social Media
Members of a Texas fire department have spoken out after a Tesla Cybertruck crashed into a fire hydrant and burst into flames shortly after.
When you first think of Tesla Cybertrucks, you probably think of something which looks like it's out of a sci-fi film and is meant to be pretty indestructible.
Alas, even something as small as a fire hydrant can apparently pose a threat to the 'durable and rugged' vehicles.
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On Tuesday (August 27), a Tesla Cybertruck is reported as having crashed into a fire hydrant at around 4.45pm between Sam’s Club and Bass Pro Shop near Spur 54 and Bass Pro Drive in Harlingen, Texas.
After the crash, the vehicle ended up bursting into flames and a member of the local fire department has since explained why it was 'not a normal fire'.
Assistant Fire Chief Ruben Balboa told Valley Central the cybertruck ended up being set alight shortly after crashing into the hydrant.
The crash then caused water from the hydrant to soak the vehicle's battery. However, first responders on the scene added that despite putting out the flames, the fire started back up again even after the water was stopped from getting onto the battery.
Of course, it didn't take long for social media users to leap online to point out the potential irony of the situation.
One Twitter user said: "The WATER. Set it on FIRE."
"The water set it on fire? Is Elmo so incompetent that he defies physics?" another added.
A third commented: "Now THAT is f**king beautiful. Getting lit on fire by a Fire Hydrant is some next-level dumbf**kery."
However, Harlingen Fire Chief Rafael Balderas has since detailed his theory.
Chief Balderas said it's the 'first' Cybertruck fire in Harlingen that he's 'aware of' and it's 'not like a normal car fire'.
Why? He told KRGV: "This one happened to hit a hydrant, and it broke loose the battery pack, and it became on fire. It’s known nowadays that these fires take a lot of water to turn off."
Chief Balderas believes the fire resulted from the crash damaging the Tesla's battery pack rather than the water hitting the battery pack.
He explained: "A regular car fire, you're there and you extinguish it within five, 10 minutes - you pour water on it, and it’s over.
"In this particular case, the burning is so much hotter from the batteries that it's going to take more water to cool it down."
It's not been publicly revealed whether anyone was injured in the incident.
UNILAD has contacted Tesla and Harlingen Fire Department for comment.