ARIZONA NEWS

Waymo electric vehicle catches fire in south Phoenix warehouse

May 2, 2023, 12:55 PM | Updated: 1:08 pm

(Phoenix Fire Department Photo) (Phoenix Fire Department Photo) (Phoenix Fire Department Photo) (Phoenix Fire Department Photo) (Phoenix Fire Department Photo)

PHOENIX — An autonomous electric vehicle caught fire at a Waymo warehouse in south Phoenix on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

All employees had safely evacuated the building by the time firefighters responded to the scene near Buckeye Road and Third Street around 8:30 a.m., the Phoenix Fire Department said.

Capt. Todd Keller told KTAR News 92.3 FM the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

“I can tell you that the sprinkler system did a fabulous job preventing the fire from extending to the building, which allowed our firefighters to go in and assist with the extinguishment of the fire,” Keller said.

“Because these battery’s cells store a high amount of energy in such a small amount of space … once one of these cells goes, it’s extremely difficult to put out.”

After the fire was extinguished, the vehicle was put in a Phoenix Streets Department environmental dumpster to be taken for proper recycling.

Keller said the Waymo facility is used to service the company’s self-driving vehicles.

“They bring the electric vehicles to the Waymo warehouse and equip them. They download the software, they get all the cameras ready and get them ready for the road,” he said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Nick Sadowski contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

(Pexels Photo, File)...

KTAR.com

Pedestrian crossing Glendale street on red light dies after getting hit by vehicle

A pedestrian died Tuesday morning after she was hit by a vehicle in Glendale while crossing a street on a red light.

10 hours ago

Police are asking the public for help identifying a nonverbal boy found walking without shoes in Gl...

KTAR.com

Police seek information about nonverbal child found in Glendale

Authorities are asking the public for help identifying a nonverbal child found walking without shoes in Glendale on Tuesday morning.

10 hours ago

Photo of tech workers to illustrate story on metro Phoenix adding more than 98,000 jobs last year....

Jim Cross

New report shows strength of diversified metro Phoenix workforce

Metro Phoenix added more than 98,000 jobs last year and now has 130,000 more jobs than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report.

10 hours ago

(Arizona Department of Transportation Photo)...

KTAR.com

Southbound I-17 in Phoenix reopens following serious crash

Part of the Interstate 17 freeway in Phoenix was closed Tuesday morning for hours due to a serious crash.

10 hours ago

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)...

Brandon King

Arizona copper mine construction delayed, as activists work to find solution

Earlier this month, the federal government put a pause on the building of the planned Resolution Copper mine, the latest in a decade-long series of delays.

10 hours ago

Jorrell Yazzie (Chandler Police Department)...

Brandon Gray

Mesa man arrested after fatal crash in Chandler

A Mesa man has been arrested following a fatal three-vehicle crash in Chandler Monday morning, authorities said. 

10 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

SANDERSON FORD

Thank you to Al McCoy for 51 years as voice of the Phoenix Suns

Sanderson Ford wants to share its thanks to Al McCoy for the impact he made in the Valley for more than a half-decade.

...

Desert Institute for Spine Care

Spinal fusion surgery has come a long way, despite misconceptions

As Dr. Justin Field of the Desert Institute for Spine Care explained, “we've come a long way over the last couple of decades.”

(Desert Institute for Spine Care in Arizona Photo)...

Desert Institute for Spine Care in Arizona

5 common causes for chronic neck pain

Neck pain can debilitate one’s daily routine, yet 80% of people experience it in their lives and 20%-50% deal with it annually.

Waymo electric vehicle catches fire in south Phoenix warehouse