UPDATE: Fire Breaks Out At GM's Newly Opened California Design Center

Update: "We’re grateful that all employees and first responders are safe and accounted for," a GM spokesperson told TTAC in an emailed statement. "The isolated fire was contained to a single design concept vehicle and did not spread to any other vehicles, design concepts, or the building itself. We thank the responding fire departments for their swift action in extinguishing the fire." GM also said the facility remains temporarily closed, but is looking forward to welcoming staff back ASAP.

A fire happened at General Motors’ Advanced Design Center in Pasadena on Wednesday, prompting a large-scale hazardous materials response.

The Los Angeles Times reported the blaze began around 5:45 p.m. at GM’s 149,000-square-foot facility. More than 100 firefighters were called to contain the four-alarm fire, which quickly escalated due to the presence of lithium-ion batteries inside the building.

Lithium-ion battery fires are extremely challenging because they can continue burning internally even after surface flames are extinguished. A single overheating cell can cause nearby cells to ignite—known as thermal runaway— releasing extreme heat and toxic gases. Lithium-ion batteries can react violently to water, so crews had to use specialized techniques to douse the flames to avoid a chemical reaction that could reignite the batteries or trigger an explosion.

Firefighters reportedly struggled for more than an hour to locate the main source of the blaze inside the design complex, which houses several of GM’s future concept and prototype projects. At the height of the fire, the building was filled with thick smoke, reducing visibility to near zero.

One firefighter issued a mayday call after becoming lost inside but was safely rescued. No injuries were reported, but hazardous materials teams will remain at the scene for several days to secure the building and prevent flare-ups.

GM did not comment on the extent of the damage or whether the burned vehicle is linked to any upcoming reveals, such as the rumored electric Camaro or a potential show car expected at next month’s Los Angeles Auto Show. The automaker did confirm it is cooperating fully with authorities in their investigation and assessing the next steps. Understandably, the facility remains closed.

The Advanced Design Center—an eight-acre, $71 million complex that opened just last year—serves as one of GM’s key creative and engineering hubs, responsible for the design of concept vehicles and advanced mobility projects. The company purchased and renovated the site in 2021 to expand its West Coast presence and strengthen ties with the Southern California design and tech community.

[Images: General Motors ]

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