Firefighters use 36,000 gallons of water to extinguish one Tesla

This week, Alabama firefighters poured over 36,000 gallons of water on a burning Tesla before the fire dissipated.

Authorities arrived at the scene in Pine Level at 11 a.m. Monday and were greeted with a burning Tesla Model Y that crashed on the interstate. The intensity of the fire forced police to close the highway.

By the time the fire was extinguished, more than 10 rescue groups were helping snuff the blaze with the 36,000 gallons. A regular car fire takes 500 gallons to put out.

The cause of the crash has not been determined by investigators.

The Pine Level Fire Department partially blamed electric vehicles for the intensity of the fire.

“Electric vehicle fires are unusual and present unique challenges and dangers to firefighters,” the department said in a statement.

EVs pose a substantial threat to firefighters due to their lithium-ion batteries, which usually burn hotter and longer. Many of Tesla’s cars use those batteries; the company has said they will soon shift to lithium iron phosphate batteries.