SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – A fire destroyed multiple Tesla cars at a service center in Miramar early Friday morning, and investigators are now considering the possibility of arson.
The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. at the Tesla facility on Trade Place, authorities said.
San Diego Police officers and Fire-Rescue crews arrived to find four Teslas fully engulfed in flames, with the fire scorching part of the service center building.
Firefighters were able to stop the flames from spreading further, but the blaze completely destroyed the four vehicles.
A member of the Metro Arson Strike Team told ABC 10News that lithium-ion batteries in the cars reignited several hours later, at about 6:30 a.m.
These types of batteries, commonly used in electric vehicles, can be difficult to extinguish once ignited and may flare up again even after the fire is thought to be under control, authorities said.
Arson investigators are still sifting through the damage, but officials confirmed foul play is being considered as a possible cause.
This incident follows similar lithium-ion battery fires, including one last week at an SDG&E battery facility in Escondido and another at a storage site in Otay Mesa.
Read more: Escondido battery fire sparks concern with storage safety
