The fire, which started in the parking lot, did not damage the facility, and Rivian reports that it is not aware of any injuries
Around 50 brand-new Rivian R1S and R1T models were damaged in a fire that started in the parking lot of the company’s factory in Normal, Illinois, over the weekend.
The fire began on Saturday evening, and the Normal Fire Department was called to the scene just before 9:45 p.m. A video posted on social media highlights the intensity of the blaze, with massive flames reaching into the sky and thick black smoke pouring out from the burning Rivians.
Fire crews managed to extinguish the blaze, but not before numerous R1Ts and R1Ss were destroyed. A photo taken after the incident shows Rivian has boxed in 57 vehicles damaged by the fire, placing them in a corner of the parking lot. Most of the EVs are completely destroyed, reduced to charred remnants, while a few appear to have sustained less severe damage.
In an interview with 25 News Now following the incident, Rivian spokesperson Kelli Felker stated that the cause of the fire is under investigation.
“We are looking into the cause of the fire that damaged several vehicles in a parking lot at our Normal plant late Saturday night,” she said. “The plant itself was not affected. Currently, we are not aware of any injuries.”
Fortunately for Rivian, the fire did not reach the production facility or affect any of the brand’s upcoming models, such as the smaller R2 and R3.
This isn’t the only recent fire-related incident involving Rivian. In July, three all-electric Amazon delivery vans made by the EV manufacturer caught fire at an Amazon fulfillment center in Houston, Texas. While the official cause of that fire has not been determined, Rivian reported that one of the vans was plugged into a charger but not charging at the time. The company also stated that the high-voltage battery was not the cause of the incident.
