A Tesla Semi truck caught fire on Interstate 880 in Hayward, California, on October 27, 2026, forcing a shutdown of the freeway lanes and triggering a multi-hour traffic delay due to the lithium battery hazard.
Commuters faced severe gridlock on one of the Bay Area’s busiest freeways after a heavy-duty electric truck burst into flames during the evening rush. At about 5:35 p.m., the big rig had caught fire in the southbound lanes near Route 92, prompting a traffic advisory from the CHP warning drivers that the right and center lanes were blocked near Hayward.
🚨 TRAFFIC ALERT – I-880 FULL CLOSURE 🚨A Tesla semi-truck has caught fire on I-880, resulting in a complete shutdown of both northbound and southbound lanes due to the potential risk of hazardous chemical smoke. pic.twitter.com/O01z32nxpZ
Battery Fire Shuts Down Interstate 880 Lanes
Emergency responders confronted a massive firefighting challenge as the truck’s lithium-ion battery pack ignited. The California Highway Patrol announced a complete shutdown of both northbound and southbound lanes due to the potential risk of hazardous chemical smoke
as thick black plumes drifted across the tarmac. Footage from Kandice Wu captured the blaze while fire crews responded to the scene as traffic backed up.
While northbound lanes reopened by 8:40 p.m., southbound lanes remained heavily restricted between A
Street and Highway 92, with traffic diverted off the freeway at Winton Avenue. Officials warned drivers to expect extreme delays and use alternative routes if possible. Transport authorities estimated that the southbound side could remain shut for 15 to 18 hours, or until the fire consuming the Tesla’s lithium ion battery cells is fully extinguished. By 9 p.m., the California Department of Transportation was en route to conduct a hard closure.
Firefighting Challenges of Heavy Electric Commercial Rigs
Commercial electric trucks present distinct safety hurdles compared to passenger electric vehicles due to their massive battery capacity. Tesla itself noting that it can take 3,000 to 8,000 gallons applied directly to the pack.
A similar fire happened in 2024 when a Tesla Semi crashed on Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap. That earlier accident kept a freeway closed for about 15 hours while firefighters made sure the batteries were cool enough to recover the truck.
More on Tesla Semi
A Tesla semi-truck caught fire on I-880 in Hayward on Tuesday. Both the northbound and southbound lanes are shutdown. California Highway Patrol says they don't have an estimated time of reopening for the interstate lanes. https://t.co/Zbb0lgtL60
Tesla semi-truck fire in Hayward blocks traffic https://t.co/LXDhR4kj3i