A new video obtained by CNBC gives us our first look at the fire that engulfed a set of Ford F-150 Lightnings at a property in Dearborn, Michigan, earlier this year. This heavily edited version of the video shows police arriving on the scene as smoke billows from a group of electric trucks parked at the back of the property.
In addition to obtaining bodycam and dashcam footage of Michigan police officers, CNBC also obtained footage of the fire’s aftermath through a separate Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. These photos show just how devastating the blaze really was, with flames leaving one truck with only a shell of what it was before — the doors burned completely and a tire melted halfway into the ground. Another photo shows how the flames ate through the back panel of a truck, exposing the wiring underneath.
It’s still not clear how long the blaze lasted, but time stamps on CNBC’s footage suggest it lasted at least between 3:36 PM and 4:22 PM ET. Electric vehicle fires are notoriously difficult to put out, with one expert telling CNBC that they often burn hotter, faster and require more water to extinguish.
“Working with SK On, we confirmed root causes and quickly implemented quality actions,” Ford tells CNBC. “The Rouge Electric Vehicle Center has been operational since March 13 and is back to full production and shipment of vehicles to customers.” Ford did not immediately respond The edgerequest for comment.