JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Following rampant speculation that the Friday afternoon fire inside the hourly garage at Jacksonville International Airport was started by a Tesla, officials with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority have confirmed that was not the case.
On Monday, the JAA board officially dispelled the rumor, but added that it is exploring the possibility that a hybrid car “may have been involved.”
“I can confirm that a vehicle caught fire and it spread across the garage,” said JAA Chief Operating Officer Tony Cugno. “It is being actively investigated right now by federal and state agencies, so we can’t comment on the actual investigation process.”
At a meeting on Monday, JAA officials said parts of the garage will be closed indefinitely following the destructive fire, also saying that some parts will likely require demolition.
The garage, which was structurally damaged, remains closed, and officials said a “collapse zone” has been established.
Officials with the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Bureau and the State Fire Marshals Office are at the scene continuing their investigation.
“This fire investigation is currently open and ongoing, and no further information is available at this time,” the State Fire Marshal told News4JAX in a statement.
JAX also said it expects “certain areas” of the hourly garage to be cleared and deemed safe later this week, and has also created an online form to update those who had cars affected by the fire.
Airport officials reassured those affected by the incident that they are working as quickly as possible to provide answers.
With the busy Memorial Day weekend approaching, much of the on-site parking is expected to remain unavailable, and travelers are being asked to explore alternative parking options, such as Uber or Lyft, or to arrange rides with friends and family.
The full JAA meeting can be watched below. The comments about the Tesla are made around the 8-minute mark.
The parking garage was last inspected in October 2024, JFRD said.
News4JAX has requested a copy of that inspection report and will provide more details when the report becomes available.
