--- title: "‘Just Won’t Quit’: Melted Toyota Tacoma Starts Right Up After Surviving California Wildfire" date: "2025-01-13" modified: "2025-01-13" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-california-wildfires-couldnt-kill-this-tough-as-nails-toyota-tacoma" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Toyota News" tags: - "pickup" - "tacoma" - "Toyota" --- # ‘Just Won’t Quit’: Melted Toyota Tacoma Starts Right Up After Surviving California Wildfire ![Image of Toyota Tacoma previously damaged in California wildfires parked at gas station.]() *\Courtesy Brandon Sanders\* In times of terrible tragedy, it can be helpful to find little rays of positivity, even if only to provide some reprieve from the pain. Well, one tough-as-nails [Toyota Tacoma]() gave exactly that to a family in Eaton, California. The devastating wildfires took their home, along with every other home on the block. But this Tacoma not only survived the fire—it also started up and ran without problems on the first try. In this video from Brandon Sanders on [YouTube](), you can see the pile of rubble and ash that used to be his house. When the camera pans to the right, you see his 2013 Tacoma Prerunner still standing. The owner gets in, and the mighty Toyota fires to life at the first twist of the ignition. It seemingly runs perfectly, with no lumpy idle even while breathing in dirty air. "The damage to the truck appears to be 100% cosmetic," Sanders told us in an email. "The front grill and bumper cover are badly melted, as are the side molding and one of the rear tail lights. The paint on the hood and driver's side is scorched/cooked and makes the truck look a little like a perfectly roasted marshmallow." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UNTHlAl9gc Toyota trucks from that era are known for being pretty indestructible. We all remember when *Top Gear* spent an entire episode trying to ruin a Toyota Hilux pickup. And while the Tacoma and [Hilux]() are different models, this Tacoma survived a real-life tragedy, not made-for-TV stunts. How it didn't burn or melt in the fire could be a matter of luck—maybe the intense flames just happened to miss it. They couldn't have been far, as the debris of former houses stood only feet away. Not only did the Tacoma not burn to the ground, but even all of its wiring harnesses, plastic connections, and hoses survived the heat without melting, allowing the engine to start right up. Sanders told us this is his second Tacoma—his first was a 1998 model that he eventually sold in 2019 with about 317,000 miles on the clock. "The plan before the fire was to keep this truck forever, and that's still the plan now," he said. "I don't plan on repairing it immediately because I need it as a driving/working vehicle to get to work and get my family around but I will consider repairing the cosmetic damage once life becomes a little more stable." The pickup's keys disintegrated in the fire, but Envision Toyota of West Covina made Sanders a new key using the truck's VIN for free after seeing the state of the vehicle. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Toyota should give this family a new Tacoma (or at the very least cover the repairs), as no billion-dollar ad campaign could ever come close to vouching for its products like this 28-second iPhone video. It's done so before, for a woman whose [Tundra was burned]() while being used as a rescue vehicle in a previous California wildfire in 2018. ***Updated Jan. 13, 2025, 1:00 p.m. Eastern:** Added comments and images provided by Brandon Sanders.* *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()