FOLLOW UP
After the fire, officials assess the situation late at night (Photo – W.K.)
General Motors says a fire at its Pasadena Advanced Design Studio on Wednesday evening was isolated to a single concept vehicle and did not spread to other cars, design concepts, or the building itself.
By News Desk
“We’re grateful that all employees and first responders are safe and accounted for,” a GM spokesperson said in a statement Thursday morning. “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 added that, as a precaution, the facility remains temporarily closed but that the company looks forward to welcoming staff back “as soon as possible.” Officials said GM is cooperating fully with authorities as they investigate the cause of the incident and assess next steps.
Initial Response and Fire Details
The blaze was first reported around 5:45 pm Wednesday at GM’s advanced design complex near Sierra Madre Villa Avenue and Rosemead Boulevard, according to the Pasadena Fire Department.
Initial reports described the event as a significant incident due to heavy smoke and the presence of lithium-ion batteries on site. The response escalated to a four-alarm fire, drawing additional units from surrounding cities and triggering a hazardous materials response out of caution.
Firefighters initially struggled to locate the source of the flames inside the sprawling facility, which houses concept and prototype vehicle development for GM’s Cadillac, Buick, GMC, and Chevrolet brands.
Pasadena Fire officials confirmed that no injuries were reported, and roads in the area were temporarily closed while crews ensured the scene was safe. Cleanup and evaluation efforts are expected to continue into the coming days.
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