JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A week has passed since a devastating fire broke out inside the hourly parking garage at the Jacksonville International Airport, damaging about 50 cars.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the leading investigative agency, said on Friday it is still working on determining the cause and origin of the fire. However, a Jacksonville Aviation Authority police report obtained by News4JAX on Tuesday gave some insight into what happened before the fire.
Recommended Videos
RELATED | Morgan & Morgan to represent ‘several’ people affected by Jacksonville airport garage fire
No one was injured in the blaze. But, according to the JAA report, JFRD firefighters treated “unknown” passengers for smoke inhalation. The report does not state how many people were treated.
The fire partially collapsed part of the parking structure, forcing officials to close it indefinitely after it was deemed unsafe.
Here’s a breakdown of the latest on the investigation, car pickup and Memorial Day travel.
Timeline
On Monday, the JAA board officially dispelled the rumor that the fire had been started by a Tesla, but added that it was exploring the possibility that a hybrid car “may have been involved.”
While the cause of the fire has not been revealed, the JAA police report included a timeline of the moments leading to the fire, which was put together based on security footage.
8:07 a.m.: Mid-size BMW dark in color, enters hourly garage through upper level access
8:09 a.m.: Woman parks and exits vehicle, walking toward departures
12:03 p.m.: Smoke observed coming from beneath the front of the vehicle
12:04 p.m.: Vehicle fully engulfed in fire. Due to the thick smoke, the video did not show how the fire spread after that.
12:06 p.m.: The Airport Operations Control Center received a forwarded dispatch from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office about a car on fire in the hourly garage.
Car pickup
The garage’s closure impacted about 1,200 cars that were parked in the structure at the time of the fire. Those affected were asked to fill out an online form to receive updates regarding their vehicles.
A call center began operating on Tuesday to help people retrieve their cars, starting with those who were parked in the designated “safe area” of the structure.
About 10 JAX volunteers and employees began calling people early Tuesday to notify them that their car would be available for pickup starting at 5 p.m.
On Thursday, JAA said vehicles that were still in the damaged area of the hourly garage were being towed to where their owners could retrieve them.
On Friday afternoon, JAA told News4JAX that approximately 231 cars parked in the affected area had been relocated to the airport’s reunification area, which will be open 24 hours a day on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Officials also said approximately 120 cars were within the footprint of the investigation area.
Airport officials also said they do not have complete contact information for some of the relocated vehicles, and asked those who have not been contacted by JAA to email them at jax_airport_event@flyjax.com or call with your license plate number at 904-741-2710.
JAA’s call center will be operating from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Memorial Day travel
Lines began forming at JAX on Thursday morning for what AAA marks as the start of Memorial Day weekend travel.
But on top of dealing with the increase in passengers, JAX continued to cope with the aftermath of last week’s fire.
Airport officials said on Thursday that with the exception of the southern portion of the hourly garage, all parking areas (North Hourly Garage, Daily Garage, Daily Surface Lot and Economy Lots) were open and operational heading into Memorial Day weekend.
As of 1:57 p.m. on Friday, the JAX website showed the daily garage was at 47% capacity, the daily surface lot was at 67%, and the economy lots were at 69% capacity.
The valet area remained closed.