Fire at Elon Musk's X Data Center: An In - Depth Analysis

1. Fire Incident Overview

According to an official fire investigation, a recent, protracted fire lasting several hours at a data center utilized by Elon Musk's X likely originated from an electrical or mechanical problem within a power system. The blaze, first reported by WIRED, took place on May 22 in Hillsboro, Oregon. The 13 - acre data center is operated by Digital Realty, a data center giant, and multiple informed sources previously disclosed to WIRED that the Musk - led social platform X houses its servers at this site.

2. Prevalence of Data Center Fires

Data center fires are relatively infrequent. Various researchers indicate that over the past decade, only around two dozen well - known incidents have occurred across thousands of facilities globally. However, the burgeoning demand for generative AI technology, which depends on large clusters of advanced computers, is escalating the size and power requirements of data centers. This heightened load may ultimately render AI data centers more susceptible to fires triggered by overheating or malfunctions.

3. Fire Investigation Details at X Data Center

• Initial Suspicions: Initially, firefighters at the X data center suspected that a lithium - ion battery might be involved in the fire. However, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue spokesperson Piseth Pich clarified that this was not the case.

• Actual Ignition Source: As per a fire department report obtained by WIRED, the fire ignited a Schneider Electric Galaxy VX uninterruptible power supply (UPS) cabinet. Industry experts note that these UPS systems, approximately the size of a vending machine and constructed from metal and plastic, are common in data centers. They function as a filter and temporary power source, ensuring a consistent electricity supply during outages or other issues. Shaolei Ren, an electrical and computer engineer at UC Riverside who studies data centers, states, “A UPS houses large battery packs which, much like electric - vehicle batteries, can be prone to fires caused by electrical failures or temporary high loads.”

• Cause of Ignition Uncertainty: A fire department investigator could not visually determine the cause of ignition for the UPS cabinet. While unable to rule out the electrical or mechanical failure of “a complex electrical system,” the direction of charring suggested that the fire started inside the cabinet.

4. Statements from Relevant Entities

• Digital Realty: Digital Realty spokesperson William Reynolds confirmed that “the fire was electrical in nature and not caused by lithium - ion batteries.” His colleague Helen Bleasdale added that the company had shared “relevant updates with the affected customers” and “also implemented improvements to prevent recurrence.” However, they declined to provide further details.

• Schneider Electric and xAI: Schneider Electric and xAI, the owner of X, did not respond to requests for comment.

5. Firefighting Response and Damage Assessment

Firefighters arrived 11 minutes after the first smoke alarm went off. In a second - floor power room, they were confronted with floor - to - ceiling smoke and extinguished the burning cabinet using fire extinguishers. The report estimates losses to the data center at approximately $260,000, including the total destruction of one power cabinet, with two neighboring cabinets also suffering damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

6. Contributing Factors and Similar Incidents

• Possible Contributing Factors: Russell Carroll, an electrical engineer whose California firm EMI Sleuth is involved in fire investigations, suggests that inadequate cooling and temperature monitoring of power systems can lead to fires. He remarks, “A cabinet with poor ventilation may have caused overheating to the batteries,” although he also notes that photos from the scene “show a perforated panel that would provide good ventilation.” The fire report also mentioned that the power cabinet was equipped with cooling fans to assist with ventilation and prevent overheating.

• Similar Incidents:

• In May 2023, a fire occurred at Digital Realty's data center in El Segundo, California, near Los Angeles International Airport. A report from the El Segundo Fire Department obtained by WIRED described a burning stack of servers, with estimated losses of $75,000. The department listed the “cause of ignition” as “failure of equipment or heat source.” Lili Sandoval, the city's assistant clerk, stated that no further investigation was legally required.

• Last September, a Digital Realty data center in Singapore caught fire. Local authorities have not responded to WIRED's recent request for a copy of their investigation, and the company declined to comment on the incident. A lithium - ion battery was reportedly involved.

7. Future Considerations

Ren of UC Riverside points out that data centers have a strong incentive to prevent fires and maintain server operations. However, he anticipates more fires as lithium - ion batteries, despite their inherent volatility, become more common in data centers.

Increasing our understanding of data center fires could help mitigate future damage, including minimizing downtime for critical AI, healthcare, and emergency services. Carroll, the fire investigations expert, notes that official reports are typically brief and inconclusive. If insurance companies become involved, more in - depth reports from external experts may follow, but these may be kept confidential, leaving the public speculating about the failures of increasingly crucial infrastructure.