50,000 gallons of water used to extinguish Tesla Semi fire after crash in California, NTSB reports

admin 2024年9月19日

science & technology, science & technology - expert

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

extinguish /ik-STING-gwish/

[verb] – to stop a fire or a light burning
The firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the small blaze in the kitchen before it spread.

Fahrenheit /FAR-uhn-hahyt/

[noun] – a measurement of temperature on a standard in which 32° is the temperature at which water freezes and 212° that at which it boils
The weather forecast predicted temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the heatwave.

retardant /ri-TAHR-dnt/

[noun] – a substance used to slow down or prevent the spread of fire
The firefighters used fire retardant to create a protective barrier around the area.

precaution /pri-KAW-shuhn/

[noun] – an action that is done to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous happening
As a precaution, we decided to wear masks while visiting the crowded market.

ignite /ig-NAHYT/

[verb] – to catch fire or cause something to catch fire
The dry grass ignited instantly when the lightning struck the field.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

Firefighters in California had to use about 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish a fire caused by a battery in a Tesla Semi truck after a crash on August 19 along Interstate 80, near Emigrant Gap, approximately 70 miles northeast of Sacramento. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the truck’s battery reached temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit during the fire. Firefighters also used an aircraft to drop fire retardant in the area as a precaution. The crash occurred at around 3:13 a.m. when the Tesla Semi, being driven by a Tesla employee from Livermore to a facility in Sparks, Nevada, left the road while navigating a curve and struck a tree. The driver was not injured, but the truck’s large lithium-ion battery ignited.

The NTSB launched an investigation into the crash to assess fire risks related to the truck’s battery. It was confirmed that Tesla’s automated driving systems were not active during the crash. Firefighters closed the freeway for 15 hours to ensure the battery was cooled enough to safely recover the vehicle. After the truck was taken to an open-air facility, it was monitored for 24 hours to prevent potential reignition. The NTSB will continue its investigation and plans to issue safety recommendations, particularly for first responders, addressing the dangers posed by high-voltage battery fires in electric vehicles and the need for improved manufacturer guidelines.

Discussion Questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

Have you ever witnessed or heard about a vehicle fire? If yes, what happened? If not, how do you think such situations can be dangerous?
Have you ever used a fire extinguisher or fire retardant in an emergency? If yes, how did you or they handle it? If not, how do you think using these tools is important in managing fires effectively?
Do you agree that electric vehicle batteries pose more risks than traditional vehicle engines in certain situations?
What do you think are the main challenges firefighters face when dealing with electric vehicle fires, such as the Tesla Semi truck fire in the article?
How do you think electric vehicle manufacturers can improve their safety features to prevent or minimize battery fires?

Summarization

Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.

Describe:

Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.

truck
firefighter
vehicle
danger
high-voltage battery