Key takeaways
- A Tesla Semi caught fire on I-880 in Hayward, California, on October 27 with no crash and no other vehicles involved. The driver said he did not know why.
- The highway patrol closed both directions because of possible toxic smoke. Northbound reopened after about three hours, southbound only after about 10 hours. The cause is unknown, and Tesla has said nothing.
- My view: this is why people talk about Tesla. One truck ruined the day of thousands of people, nobody knows why it burned, and Musk, who posts about every robotaxi milestone, stayed silent.
On Tuesday, October 27, at about 5:35 p.m., a Tesla Semi caught fire on southbound I-880 in Hayward, south of Oakland, in the middle of the evening rush hour. There was no crash and no other vehicle was involved. The driver got out unhurt and told officers the truck simply caught fire and he did not know why. The California Highway Patrol closed the freeway in both directions because of “the potential risk of hazardous chemical smoke” and warned that the battery could burn for 15 to 18 hours. Northbound lanes reopened at about 8:40 p.m., and southbound lanes only at about 3:30 a.m., roughly 10 hours after the fire started.
The cause is under investigation, and Tesla, which has no press office, has not commented. It is the second Tesla Semi fire to close a California interstate in about two years. In August 2024, a Semi crashed into a tree on I-80, and firefighters needed about 50,000 gallons of water and closed the road for about 15 hours. Tesla started volume production of the Semi in Nevada this year, with a planned capacity of 50,000 trucks a year.
| Tesla Semi fire | August 2024, I-80 | October 2026, I-880 |
|---|---|---|
| Crash? | Yes, hit a tree | No |
| Road closed | About 15 hours | About 10 hours (southbound) |
| Water used | About 50,000 gallons | Not reported |
| Injuries | None | None |
| Cause | Battery ignited after the crash | Unknown |
In this article: Imagine you were on I-880 that evening · “Diesels burn every day.” So why Tesla? · It just caught fire · Musk posts robotaxi miles, not burning trucks · Firefighters still don’t have the answers · What to do if you see one burning · 20% cheaper, until it burns · FAQ
Imagine you were on I-880 that evening
I find it really interesting who stands on Tesla’s side and says that when a Tesla burns, everyone talks about it right away. I want to tell those defenders: imagine you are driving to work, or taking your kids to kindergarten. Suddenly there is an accident at the start of the road. You think: in an hour we will go, nothing serious happened.
And then one hour passes, two, three. In the end you just stand there, exhausted, and the whole day is gone. Because of one stupid truck. Do you think that is fair?
“Diesels burn every day.” So why Tesla?
Yes, diesel trucks catch fire too, many times every day. But when a diesel burns, or there is a crash, firefighters know a quick procedure. Here they had to close the highway in both directions because of harmful smoke, and the battery could burn for many hours.
The NTSB said already in 2021 that manufacturers’ guidance for firefighters on big electric batteries is not good enough. And this fire shows, the way I see it, that it is still not enough. In my opinion, because of Musk’s arrogance, where we get nothing but his word of honor, thousands of people have to suffer. That is why people talk about Tesla.
It just caught fire
And here is what is really interesting: the truck just started to burn. No crash. Nobody can be sure now whether it was some common defect, whether it started from the battery or from something else.
And don’t forget that these trucks already carry food every day. Musk talks about the Semi as the future of freight. A truck full of snacks that can catch fire on its own on a highway in rush hour? That is not the future I want to drive next to.
Musk posts robotaxi miles, not burning trucks
It does not matter that Tesla has no press office. Tesla has Elon Musk. When his robotaxis drive a lot of miles in a week, or pass some milestone, he writes about it on X right away. When a big truck burns, I have not seen a single word from him.
He could at least write: people, I am investigating it, and when I know something, I will let you know. But for me, the clown said nothing again. That is embarrassing. That is really pathetic from him.
Firefighters still don’t have the answers
Two years ago, firefighters needed about 50,000 gallons of water for one Semi. A normal car fire needs 500 to 1,000 gallons. The battery in one Semi is roughly like seven or eight Model Ys together.
So this is not just about a road closed for 10 hours. It is about the danger that smoke carries with it. And if the cause is never found, because so little of the cab survived, then nobody learns anything, and the next fire will be the same.
What to do if you see one burning
And here is what is different about a Tesla truck compared to a normal truck. This is not information for fans. If you ever see a burning Tesla truck, or get close to one, do not stop to watch or film it. Drive away as fast as you can.
And do you know why? Because I think that smoke is far more toxic than from a normal truck, and the fire takes much more time to put out. Now you know why people talk about Tesla. It is very bad, not only because a highway closes for up to 10 hours, but because of the danger that smoke brings.
20% cheaper, until it burns
Yes, for carriers and companies the truck is, according to Tesla, about 20% cheaper to run than a diesel. That is a real argument, and with California’s subsidies, many companies are ordering.
But there is this risk: a truck can stop on the road and burn, and nobody will know why. No cause, no explanation, no word from the CEO. For me, that is not a small detail when Tesla wants to build 50,000 of them a year. Remember the promises: production in 2019 for $150,000. It came in 2026, for almost $300,000. This is the same factory of promises.
Also on Evolt News: A Tesla on FSD and a CHP police car · Musk declares Robotaxi victory over Waymo · Tesla Robotaxi’s rocket map in Houston
Photo: a PepsiCo Tesla Semi near Sacramento in 2023, illustrative, not the truck that burned. Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
This article is opinion.
Tesla Semi fire: FAQ
What happened to the Tesla Semi on I-880?
On October 27, 2026, a Tesla Semi caught fire on southbound I-880 in Hayward, California, at about 5:35 p.m. There was no crash, and the driver was not hurt.
How long was I-880 closed after the Tesla Semi fire?
The California Highway Patrol closed both directions. Northbound reopened at about 8:40 p.m., and southbound at about 3:30 a.m., roughly 10 hours after the fire started.
What caused the Tesla Semi fire?
The cause is under investigation. The driver said he did not know why the truck caught fire, and Tesla has not commented.
Has a Tesla Semi caught fire before?
Yes. In August 2024, a Tesla Semi crashed into a tree on I-80 in California, and its battery caught fire. Firefighters used about 50,000 gallons of water, and the road was closed for about 15 hours.
Is the Tesla Semi in production?
Yes. Tesla started volume production in Nevada in 2026, with a planned capacity of 50,000 trucks a year. It costs under $300,000.
Sources: California Highway Patrol, NTSB, CBS San Francisco, Electrek, Not a Tesla App, NBC News.
Our Take
A Tesla Semi caught fire with no crash and shut a major Bay Area freeway for up to 10 hours. The cause is unknown, firefighters still struggle with huge battery fires, and Tesla has said nothing.
The way I see it, that is exactly why people talk about Tesla. If the Semi is the future of freight, Tesla owes drivers and firefighters an explanation.
