Bay Area Tesla owner seeks answers after car destroyed in suspicious fire at Tesla facility
"I did see on the news Teslas have been targets. Until it happens to you, it doesn't hit home," he said.
CORTE MADERA, Calif. (KGO) -- A North Bay Tesla owner says he's still looking for answers weeks after his vehicle was destroyed in a suspicious fire at a Tesla service facility in Corte Madera.
Russell Anayas of Petaluma says he was stunned when he received a phone call from the dealership on Labor Day.
"I was called by the service manager. I thought it was a spam call," Anayas said.
His Model Y had been at the Corte Madera Tesla dealership for service when a fire broke out in the early morning hours, destroying four Tesla vehicles.
At first, Anayas didn't believe what he was hearing.
Then he saw television news coverage showing his vehicle engulfed in flames.
"The first was my vehicle, the license plate and my business ID. At that point I knew it wasn't a joke," he said.
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The Central Marin Fire Department has classified the blaze as suspicious and says the cause remains under investigation.
Authorities are continuing to seek witnesses.
"As of right now, it's under investigation. It does not appear accidental. Details will come out at the conclusion of that," Battalion Chief Brian Peterson said shortly after the fire.
For Anayas, the loss has been both personal and financial.
"Still lots of emotions because I heavily depended on that vehicle, not just for work, but safely transporting my family and two-year-old son," he said.
A small business owner and U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, Anayas said numerous personal and business items were inside the vehicle when the fire occurred.
"This was all in my car. Some of it had smoke and water damage," he said while sorting through recovered belongings.
Anayas says he was aware that Teslas have been targeted in high-profile incidents around the country, but never expected it to happen to him.
"I did see on the news Teslas have been targets. Until it happens to you, it doesn't hit home," he said.
The Petaluma resident says his vehicle was financed, insured and serviced through Tesla.
He has since taken to social media in hopes of getting attention and assistance. In a post on X, he tagged Tesla CEO Elon Musk and wrote, "Pretty sure 'extra crispy' wasn't part of my service appointment."
Despite the humor, Anayas says the insurance process has been frustratingly slow and he is focused on receiving fair compensation for the vehicle he lost.
"I have nothing against Tesla. I just want a fair valuation," he said.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. The fire remains under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact authorities.
