50 Vehicles Destroyed in Major Fire that Caused Parking Garage Collapse at Jacksonville Airport

      Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department

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      A small car fire escalated into a significant parking garage fire that resulted in the closure of a Florida airport on Friday. As thick smoke spread throughout the city, flights were canceled, connections were interrupted, and travelers at Jacksonville International Airport found themselves stranded while fire officials battled the blaze in the afternoon.

      The fire broke out on the third level of the hourly parking garage. It caused damage to around 50 vehicles, but so far, there have been no reports of injuries, according to Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan during a press briefing. She mentioned that both the hourly and daily parking garages would remain closed for the rest of the day to ensure responders have clear access.

      Due to hazardous conditions, the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department deployed drones to check if anyone remained in the garage after firefighters conducted an initial evacuation sweep. Fire Chief Keith Powers indicated that cleanup and damage assessments would require “time” because of the structural collapses on the third and second floors of the garage. If your vehicle is inside, it will be inaccessible until engineers give the go-ahead.

      Fire Chief Powers confirmed that an airport surveillance video revealed the fire originated from one vehicle, but little else is known. “We don’t have any specifics about that vehicle, such as what type it was,” he said. “We don’t know if it was electric, gas-powered, or something else. The video only shows the vehicle that ignited the fire.” No cause has been reported either.

      Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department

      The ongoing fire caused disruption not only at the terminal but also in the surrounding areas. WJXT reported that drivers heading to the airport faced unexpected road closures and heavier traffic. “My Uber driver was really nice, but we couldn’t figure out what was happening,” a woman shared with the news outlet. “We were just directed in circles.”

      For those waiting outside due to the airport closure, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office provided water while city buses served as makeshift cooling stations. AccuWeather noted that the temperature reached 97 degrees Fahrenheit in Jacksonville that day.

      The airport resumed operations around 5 p.m., but the impacted and nearby garage areas remain closed. According to Jacksonville Today, the hourly garage is adjacent to a new parking garage currently being built. Mayor Deegan mentioned that construction would continue as planned, “but for the short term, we are down a few thousand parking spots.”

      Airport officials are advising alternative modes of transportation like ridesharing, carpooling, and at-terminal drop-off and pick-up due to the limited on-site parking. A temporary car rental return area has been established, and a list of damaged vehicles is being compiled, though this process may take several days.

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