Florida airport fire destroys thousands of rental cars – CNN

The blaze started Friday, covered 15 acres and originally included only 20 cars in the grassy rental automobile overflow location at the airport in Fort Myers, fire department officials said.

But by the time it was extinguished, the flames had actually ruined more than 3,500 rental cars and trucks, a Lee County Port Authority
representative told CNN affiliate WINK. Melinda Avni, Mitigation Specialist for Florida Forestry Service of Caloosahatchee, said authorities were called to put out the fire around 5 p.m. Friday, when there were about 20 automobiles involved.

” By the time we had systems on the scene, we had 100 vehicles (on fire). We lost count after the hundreds,” she stated.

spokesperson told CNN affiliate WINK. At least 80 airdrops were made by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office’s aviation system, it said in a Facebook post. The brush surrounding the overflow location captured fire and help its quick spread, however no structures at the airport were affected, Avni stated.

A minimum of 80 airdrops were made by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office’s aviation system, it said in a Facebook post. The forestry service deemed the blaze consisted of by 10:30 a.m. Saturday, almost 18 hours after it started, Avni said.

The brush surrounding the overflow area ignited and assist its quick spread, however no structures at the airport were impacted, Avni stated. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation, she said.

FAA spokesperson Arlene Salac stated the fire had no influence on air traffic or operations at the airport.

Black clouds of smoke might be seen for miles around Fort Myers, a.

city of about 82,000 individuals in southwest Florida. Ground and aerial assistance was offered by Florida Forestry Service and numerous fire departments, Avni stated.

In a Facebook post, the airport thanked all the companies who responded to the blaze.

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