Major Fire Damages GM California Design Studio Involving Lithium-Ion EV Batteries

A major fire broke out at General Motors' Advanced Design Center in Pasadena, California, causing extensive damage but reportedly contained to a single concept vehicle and not spreading to other vehicles or the building. The blaze, one of the largest structure fires in Pasadena in recent years, involved lithium-ion batteries, which complicated firefighting efforts due to their potential for thermal runaway and toxic gas emissions. More than 100 firefighters and hazardous materials teams battled the fire for nearly eight hours, during which a firefighter was briefly trapped but safely rescued. GM confirmed no employees or first responders were injured and emphasized the fire was isolated to one design vehicle. The design studio, which opened in 2024 following a $71 million investment, housed several prototypes including the recently unveiled California Corvette Concept. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.