--- title: "Fire Outside Rivian Plant Torches 50+ Electric SUVs and Pickups" description: "Some 50 to 60 Rivian R1T and R1S electric vehicles were lost after a fire broke out outside the company's Illinois facility over the weekend." date: "2024-08-26" modified: "2024-08-26" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/fire-outside-rivian-plant-torches-50-electric-suvs-and-pickups" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Electric Vehicles" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Rivian News" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" - "pickup" - "R1S" - "r1t" - "Rivian" - "suv/crossover" --- # Fire Outside Rivian Plant Torches 50+ Electric SUVs and Pickups ![Side by side images of Rivian EVs on fire outside the company's plant, and an overhead view of the affected cars after the fire was extinguished.]() *\Drone footage by Jack Hanson\* A fire broke out late Saturday in a lot on the grounds of Rivian's Normal, Illinois manufacturing plant that appears to have torched between 50 and 60 [R1T pickups]() and [R1S SUVs](). Firefighters were called to the scene around 9:45 p.m. on August 14, and the blaze was reportedly extinguished by midnight, per *[25News]()*—unfortunately, not before all that damage. Thankfully, nobody seems to have been harmed in the incident, and the fire didn't reach the facility. Both local authorities as well as [Rivian]() itself are investigating the cause, and *The Drive* has contacted the automaker for more information. This story will be updated should we learn anything. The fire was limited to a parking lot on the north side of the property, according to *[Reuters]()* citing the Normal Fire Department. An individual who claims to be employed there [commented on a Reddit thread]() that the group of vehicles affected were "waiting to be shipped out/fixed before shipping." It seems that the vehicles have been collected and boxed in since the fire, to prevent any further danger to their surroundings. ![]() *A Rivian R1T posed outside the entrance to the company's Normal, Illinois plant. *Rivian** It's worth highlighting that while there have been a number of recall campaigns for Rivian's vehicles since they entered production, none have involved their batteries, and there's no reason as of yet to believe consumer vehicles are at any risk of fire. Additionally, while it's true that [EV fires]() are more difficult to put out, [multiple]() [studies]() indicate that EVs are many times less likely to go up in smoke than gas-powered vehicles. Earlier this year, Rivian's factory was shut down for three weeks to retool for production of the company's [smaller R2 SUV](), which is expected to begin in the first half of 2026. The R2 was slated to be built at a new facility in Georgia, but Rivian decided to pause those plans in favor of manufacturing in Illinois. *Got tips? Send ’em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()