Overview

• A tractor-trailer hauling seven to eight Teslas caught fire on southbound I-5 near Balboa Boulevard in Sylmar around 5:35 p.m. Saturday, and the driver was uninjured.
• Tesla’s vice president for supply chain said the third-party diesel tractor ignited first and pledged replacements for affected customers’ vehicles.
• LAFD, LA County Fire, CHP and Caltrans HazMat mounted a large response using Class B foam, Thermo-Gel, sand and extended water lines, protecting two EVs from direct flames.
• Authorities have not identified a cause, and reports about overheated brakes or battery involvement remain unconfirmed during the ongoing review.
• CHP issued a SigAlert that shut multiple lanes for hours; general traffic later reopened as southbound truck lanes stayed closed for extended recovery.