A home in Sanford, Florida, was gutted by a fire that started from a charging Tesla in the garage. The Raky family escaped with their lives, though their daughter Lily barely made it out by jumping from a second-story window. Fire officials traced the blaze to the vehicle's charging station.
The incident unfolded around 5 a.m. on a Tuesday morning when Mina Raky heard pops and crackling sounds from his garage. Upon checking, he saw thick black smoke billowing from the bottom of his Tesla, which was plugged in to charge. "I saw this black smoke coming out, black smoke coming out from everywhere," Mina recounted.
In the chaos, Mina rushed to evacuate his wife and four children. His oldest daughter, Lily, attempted to find her brother but became disoriented by the smoke. "I was not supposed to get out of the house," she said. "After I walk into his room, that is where I lose all sight, hearing, I can’t feel my body anymore." Somehow, Lily jumped from the second-story window onto the screened-in porch and reached safety below.
Once the family was out, a Sanford Police officer returned to the burning home to rescue their dog, Leo. Mina described the emotional toll: "Just the trauma, we are all traumatized at this point." He also recalled Leo's distress during the rescue: "I saw him crying the last time. I’m glad he’s out; then there’s hope."
The Sanford Fire Department determined the fire originated at or around the Tesla charging station in the garage. The vehicle was left as a charred shell, towed outside, while the garage was completely gutted. Little remained of the Raky home, though Lily managed to salvage a few personal items, including cards from friends, a note from her boyfriend, and a small statue of Jesus, which she credits for her escape.
Tesla has not issued any comment on the fire. The family now faces the aftermath, with the garage a blackened ruin and their possessions largely lost.