Tesla Giga Berlin Recycling Area Catches Fire, Put Out by Fire Department

An outdoor area of Tesla’s German car plant caught fire, requiring the local fire department to enter the scene on Monday.

A fire broke out at Tesla’s Giga Berlin in Grünheide, Germany on Monday, before the local fire department was called to extinguish the fire around 3:30 local time, as reported by Reuters.

The fire encompassed about 800 cubic meters (1,046 cubic yards) of cardboard, paper and wood scraps in an outdoor recycling area of the plant, according to a spokesperson with the local fire department.

It’s unclear what caused the fire, though local police are investigating the situation.

After about five hours of burning and the local fire department being called, Tesla’s own fire department took over managing the remaining embers. Local firefighters remained on the scene during this time.

Tesla wasn’t available to comment on whether the fire would affect production capacity or its cause.

Last year, a cable fire at Tesla’s Giga Berlin was found to be deliberately ignited by a local environmental rights group.

Tesla is currently expanding Giga Berlin to include a battery plant as well as an outbound and inbound freight station.

Additionally, Tesla has been ramping up Model Y production since the factory’s official opening in the spring.