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Devastating Fire at Jacksonville Airport Parking Garage

Damaged vehicles and smoke in Jacksonville Airport parking garage

News Summary

A significant fire erupted at Jacksonville International Airport’s hourly parking garage, damaging about 50 vehicles and prompting an ongoing investigation by the ATF. While no injuries were reported, some individuals were treated for smoke inhalation. The incident caused part of the structure to collapse and led to its indefinite closure. Airport authorities provided assistance to the affected vehicle owners amidst Memorial Day weekend travel disruptions. The investigation is exploring the role of a mid-size BMW linked to the fire.

Jacksonville – A devastating fire broke out on May 16, 2025, inside the hourly parking garage at Jacksonville International Airport, damaging approximately 50 vehicles. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is currently leading the investigation to determine the cause and origin of the fire.

According to a police report from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA), no injuries were reported as a direct result of the blaze, although firefighters treated several individuals for smoke inhalation at the scene. The fire caused part of the parking structure to partially collapse, leading to its indefinite closure out of safety concerns.

The JAA board refuted rumors suggesting that a Tesla was responsible for the fire but confirmed that the investigation is examining the role of a hybrid vehicle. Security footage has provided critical insights into the timeline leading up to the incident:

8:07 AM: A mid-size, dark-colored BMW entered the hourly garage.
8:09 AM: A woman parked the BMW and proceeded toward the airport’s departures area.
12:03 PM: Smoke was first observed coming from the front of the BMW.
12:04 PM: The vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, producing thick smoke that obscured visibility.
12:06 PM: The Airport Operations Control Center received the first dispatch call regarding the fire.

The closure of the garage affected approximately 1,200 cars parked in the facility at the time. In response, airport authorities established a call center to assist affected vehicle owners in retrieving their cars. Priority is being given to vehicles located in a designated “safe area.” As of May 23, 2025, around 231 cars have been successfully relocated to the airport’s reunification area, while more than 120 remain captured in the investigation area.

Owners of the relocated vehicles are being informed about retrieval procedures and the hours of operation for the call center. The fire incident coincided with the beginning of Memorial Day weekend travel, resulting in major traffic delays at the airport, which complicated recovery efforts.

As of May 22, airport officials reported that most parking areas have resumed normal operations, with the exception of the southern portion of the hourly garage, which remains closed. Current reports indicate that the daily garage is operating at 47% capacity, the daily surface lot at 67%, and the economy lots at 69% capacity as of May 23. The valet area also continues to remain closed following the incident.

In the aftermath of the fire, a woman who retrieved her vehicle from the daily garage reported experiencing ongoing issues, believed to be linked to damage sustained during the fire incident.

This unfortunate event has raised significant concerns regarding safety protocols and vehicle inspections at the airport, prompting a review by the authorities. The investigation remains ongoing as officials seek to uncover the underlying factors that contributed to this hazardous incident.