Rivian Fire Reported in Colorado Springs (No Details In Article)

[njemoore]

Apparently this happened today in Colorado Springs. The article doesn't call out Rivian, but it's pretty clearly an R1T. Anyone know any details? Is the owner in here?

https://krdo.com/news/2025/08/19/co...t-working-electric-vehicle-fire-off-n-nevada/

A buddy sent me pics from the owner. R1T. Apparently caught fire while he was sitting in his office.

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Keep in mind this isn't a common occurrence. We also don't know if it's stock or had aftermarket product installed.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

A buddy sent me pics from the owner. R1T. Apparently caught fire while he was sitting in his office.

I don't want to be "that guy", but who parks like this to go to work in their office? Truck is like half over the line between a handicap spot and the no parking zone:

My first thought was maybe something started smoking while driving and they screeched into that spot to get it off the road.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I don't want to be "that guy", but who parks like this to go to work in their office? Truck is like half over the line between a handicap spot and the no parking zone:

My first thought was maybe something started smoking while driving and they screeched into that spot to get it off the road.

Maybe they are handicapped. Parked in such a way to allow room to deploy and maneuver a wheelchair into place? And maybe something aftermarket was [improperly] installed to assist in deployment of wheelchair? We may never find out.

 

[hammick]

 

[Vraptr]

I have most of it on video. The owner of the R1T works a few doors down.

 

[SANZC02]

I have most of it on video. The owner of the R1T works a few doors down.

Such a bummer, were you able to talk to the owner? Was there any indication of a possible problem before they parked it?

 

[Rivian Owner]

Plenty of people install electrical stuff without a proper fuse. I purchased a boat and found wires with the insulation melted, I guess the previous owner was lucky they had a boat to sell me. I've also seen laptop batteries catch fire, did the owner have a laptop that was left in the vehicle? I think it was Samsung that had some phones that caught fire.

My point being, there could be all sorts of reasons the vehicle caught fire that have nothing to do with the fact that the vehicle is an EV! ICE vehicles burn all the time, I remember seeing a Corvette on fire, fiberglass really burns in spectacular fashion. Let's hope that the jump to a conclusion isn't laced with all sorts of false assumptions!

 

[Zoidz]

I don't want to be "that guy", but who parks like this to go to work in their office? Truck is like half over the line between a handicap spot and the no parking zone:

You are being that guy. Give them the benefit of the doubt. As @UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan mentioned, it's entirely possible the driver is handicapped and exited on the left. I had to study ADA parking space rules 10 years ago to lay out the parking lots at two of our business locations for zoning compliance and occupancy permit. The striped area is not "no parking" - it's a reserved area of the handicapped space and it can be used as needed by the handicapped person. The intent is that a van with a handicapped side lift can pull in or back in and deploy the lift into the lined area on the right. But's it's 100% legit for them to use the entire space anyway they need.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

it's a reserved area of the handicapped space and it can be used as needed by the handicapped person. The intent is that a van with a handicapped side lift can pull in or back in and deploy the lift into the lined area on the right. But's it's 100% legit for them to use the entire space anyway they need.

I realize it is an access isle for side lifts. It is also illegal to park in one in my state:

I'm sure if I cared more I could google search for the state in this thread, lol.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

Does anyone know if this vehicle has Lithium Ion batteries or Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries?

The fire doesn't seem like a Lithium Ion fire as normally you hear the exploding of the cells.

Instead it appears to be an electrical fire started elsewhere.

 

[BigSkies]

This is the top reason why I hope Rivian reconsiders electric door latches. I will never consider those safe.

 

[SwampNut]

There’s a mechanical backup.

 

[RSpreier]

Does anyone know if this vehicle has Lithium Ion batteries or Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries?

The fire doesn't seem like a Lithium Ion fire as normally you hear the exploding of the cells.

Instead it appears to be an electrical fire started elsewhere.

This is my vehicle. The FD investigator determined it was “thermal runaway”. Definitely started from the batteries

 

[RSpreier]

I don't want to be "that guy", but who parks like this to go to work in their office? Truck is like half over the line between a handicap spot and the no parking zone:

My first thought was maybe something started smoking while driving and they screeched into that spot to get it off the road.

Nope. It was sitting in my lot for 5 hours before it started smoking And then the fire blew up. The most intense heat I have ever seen.

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