Latest news with #JacksonvilleAirport
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Some cars may be able to be removed from JAX parking garage soon
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority announced Sunday that it is making progress inside the burnt Hourly Garage at the Jacksonville International Airport. The Hourly Garage, where a car fire broke out Sunday, remains closed, but owners may get answers about the state of their cars soon. 'Crews are working to establish safe areas of the garage where cars may be removed. We believe certain areas will be deemed safe and cleared later this week,' said JAA in a statement. Officials said they have established a collapse zone. Only authorized personnel are currently able to access the garage, due to safety concerns. Travelers who parked in the Hourly Garage can go to the airport's website and sign up to receive periodic updates as they become available.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New photos show partial collapse, damaged cars at Jacksonville airport parking garage
Two days after fire engulfed parts of a Jacksonville International Airport parking garage, new photos shared by the airport show damage to some of the dozens of cars ravaged by flames on Friday, May 16. The images released Sunday show several burned-out cars and debris in the part of the garage that partially collapsed during the mid-day fire that forced the closure of JIA for several hours and the indefinite closure of the airport's hourly parking garage to allow experts to assess the structural safety of the building. In a social media post on Sunday, May 18, the airport said that officials had "established a collapse zone" and that crews were "working to establish safe areas of the garage where cars may be removed" in the coming days. The hourly parking garage, which has a capacity of 1,015 vehicles, was nearly full when the fire is believed to have started in one vehicle on the second parking level, according to airport video, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department chief Keith Powers said. The parking structure remains closed in the aftermath of the fire, leaving hundreds of airport guests temporarily separated from their vehicles. More on the fire: Jacksonville airport parking garage fire cancels flights, closes parking facilities Two days after the fire that caused no serious injuries, the daily parking garage and daily surface parking were full, according to parking information on the airport's website. The outlying "economy lots" — which were at capacity during parts of the weekend — were listed as 88% full on Sunday evening. The airport encouraged travelers to find alternate parking or use taxis or ride-sharing services to get to and from the Northside airport. The hourly parking garage is a parking structure located directly across from the airport terminal, with an upper-level drop-off area for departing passengers and a lower-level pick-up area for arriving passengers separating the two buildings. The daily parking garage structure and daily surface lot parking extend out beyond the hourly parking garage, which is used most often for short stays at the airport to drop off or pick up family members or friends who are traveling to and from the airport. The ground floor of the facility also houses several rental car pick-up and drop-off facilities. What's next: Heading to JIA? Parking options limited after fire sweeps through airport parking garage This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville airport parking garage fire photos
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Jacksonville International Airport reopens after fire at Hourly Garage
The Jacksonville International Airport reopened at 5 p.m. Friday to inbound and outbound flights after being closed for hours due to a garage fire. A fire broke out at the Hourly Garage on Friday afternoon. Smoke was first spotted pouring from a parking area at Jacksonville International Airport on the Action News Jax Skycam around 12:21 p.m. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Chief Keith Powers, and Michael Stewart of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority held a briefing at 4 p.m. You can watch it below: During the briefing, Deegan said the fire began in one car and spread to about 50. Deegan said the fire was under control, but still burning. Stewart said the fire happened on the second floor of the parking garage, which is the closest to the terminal. Powers said the airport has video of the car that first caught fire, but it is not yet known what type of car started the fire. Deegan said no injuries have been reported from the fire. Powers said there is a partial collapse of the garage on the second and third floors, so firefighters are being kept out and using drones to search the structure. He said heat from the fire caused the structural damage/collapse. Powers said the garage was last inspected in October. Powers said being able to fully inspect the garage will be a long process. Deegan said while the airport will reopen at 5 p.m., it's still a good idea for travelers to check with their airlines on the status of their flights. She said in addition to the Hourly Garage, the Daily Garage won't be available for use on Friday night. The parking garage remains closed, with more than 1000 cars inside. Officials said part of it collapsed, making entering a safety hazard. The Jacksonville Aviation Authority said it is working to create a dedicated landing page online for people to submit their information if they are parked in the hourly garage. It is expected to go live Friday night or early Saturday. Stewart said right now, the airport has 'less parking to provide.' The Hourly Garage, which has about 1,200 spaces, is closed indefinitely, Stewart said. Stewart said travelers should use Uber, Lyft, and off-site parking options. JIA has since opened temporary rental car return areas: 'A temporary rental car return area for Enterprise/Alamo/National is located at Staggerwing Ct.,' announced the airport. 'Avis/Budget, Dollar/Hertz/Thrifty will be returned on Rental Car Ln.' 'Sixt customers will return vehicles to the Aviation Authority admin office (14201 Pecan Park Road).' Roadway signage is being used to direct travelers to the designated areas. FlightAware data shows three flights took off from JAX airport during the 2 p.m. hour. A JAX airport spokesperson said at that time, 'We have some flights that were already at the gates that are departing, but that is all at this time. None arriving.' PHOTOS: Parking garage fire shuts down Jacksonville International Airport [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Jacksonville City Council President Randy White said no serious injuries have been reported as a result of the fire. He issued this statement: 'I am aware of the fire that JFRD responded to at the Jacksonville International Airport. First, I want to express my gratitude to JFRD, airport personnel, and all first responders who acted swiftly to ensure the safety of travelers and staff. 'At this time, I have been informed there are no serious injuries reported, and operations are being assessed to ensure safe resumption of services. The safety and well-being of our residents and visitors remain our top priority. 'My office is in communication with airport authorities and emergency management, and we will continue to offer support as needed. I encourage the public to follow official airport and City updates for the most accurate and timely information. 'We are thankful for the professionalism and dedication of those who serve on the front lines during emergencies like this.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Gaffney Jr., who represents District 8 where the airport is located, shared the following statement while the airport was closed: 'I am closely monitoring the situation at Jacksonville International Airport, where a fire has broken out in the Hourly Garage. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. The safety of our residents, travelers, and first responders is our top priority. I commend the swift action of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in responding to this incident. 'As of now, the airport remains closed to ensure public safety. It will reopen once our first responders and relevant authorities have deemed it safe to do so. I urge everyone to stay informed through official channels and to follow any guidance provided by emergency personnel. 'My office is in close communication with city agencies and airport officials to monitor the situation. We will provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, I ask for your patience and cooperation as we work together to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved.' Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Fire rips through Jacksonville airport garage. See the video.
Jacksonville International Airport closed due to a fire at the hourly parking garage on Friday, May 16. Video from Times-Union news partner First Coast News appeared to show multiple vehicles in the fire. The cause of the fire is not yet determined, and it's also not yet certain how many vehicles may have sustained damage in the incident. City Council president Randy White said in a statement to the Times-Union that no serious injuries had been reported. Update: Jacksonville airport parking garage fire cancels flights, closes parking facilities At 12:45 p.m., airport officials posted to multiple social media platforms: "Due to a fire in the Hourly Garage, the airport is currently closed. JFRD is on-site working the issue. JSO has blocked inbound and outbound road access to the airport. Additional details will be forthcoming soon." The city of Jacksonville's Emergency Preparedness Division also said it was on the scene, urging people to avoid the area. The airport has yet to announce a timetable for reopening from the stoppage. However, online tracker FlightAware reported that "Jacksonville Intl (KJAX) is currently experiencing all inbound flights being held at their origin until Friday at 04:00PM EDT." This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: See the fire at Jacksonville International Airport parking garage
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Jacksonville airport parking garage fire cancels flights, closes parking facilities
Ignited by a still-unknown source, fire swept through the hourly parking garage of Jacksonville International Airport on May 16, temporarily shutting down the Northside airport and leaving behind dozens of burned-out vehicles, a structurally-damaged building and jumbled plans for thousands of travelers. City and airport officials said no serious injuries resulted from the fire, which ignited at mid-day. The fire abruptly turned plans upside down for travelers when an hours-long closure of the airport canceled some incoming and departing flights and shut down roads leading to and from the terminal. Passengers who had just arrived on flights into Jacksonville were forced to make alternative travel arrangements when they couldn't get access to rental cars or their own cars in airport parking facilities, or when their friends and families were unable to get to the airport for curbside pickup. Officials said the fire, which damaged an estimated 50 cars, was so intense that it triggered a partial collapse of the hourly parking garage's second and third floors, forcing the indefinite closure of the structure to incoming and exiting vehicles as well as pedestrians as they worked to assess the full damage. On May 17, the day after the fire, the airport's daily garage and daily surface lot were also closed to incoming vehicles, officials said. But travelers whose cars were already parked in those facilities were able to access their vehicles and exit the airport. The closure of the hourly parking garage and its 1,200 parking spaces comes as the airport's parking facilities closest to the terminal regularly reach capacity — even before the start of the busy summer travel season. And with the temporary closure of airport lots near the damaged garage, airport parking had already reached capacity — even at the outlying Economy Parking lots — by mid-morning May 17. Flight disruptions continued the day after the fire, leading to at least a half-dozen cancellations of departing flights from the airport. Cassy LaRussa and Nina Knappenberger, who had flown to Jacksonville to join family members for a nephew's graduation ceremony at Creekside High School, were minutes away from getting into a rental car in the hourly parking garage when smoke began to fill the air. "We were trying to get a car and we had the keys, and then they were yelling at us to evacuate and we had to run across to the terminal," LaRussa said. "There was a lot of smoke but it looked like it was from the other garage," Knappenberger said. "And then they came over and said it was right above us and we had to get out now. And you could see the flames when we came out of the parking garage." Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department chief Keith Powers said the two-alarm fire required the use of seven engines, three crash trucks, five ladders and three tankers. The fire department received word of billowing smoke from the building shortly after 12 p.m., and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office closed roads leading to and from the airport as fire crews battled the blaze. The closure resulted in cars lining up for miles on the grassy shoulders of the roads leading to the airport because drivers couldn't go any further. On the other side of the road closures, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority brought in buses near the cell phone waiting lot so people could step into the buses for cool air and a break from the hot weather. Ben and Emma Nelson learned about the fire when they arrived at the airport and found the road blocked by the Sheriff's Office. They had been determined to avoid a repeat of an experience they had last year when they flew out of Jacksonville after a vacation and had trouble finding parking space to return their rental car. They headed extra early to the airport after wrapping up a vacation in St. Augustine. "I think our first thought was, 'Not again," Ben Nelson said. "It was like you've got to be joking — another thing in Jacksonville," Emma Nelson said. "But what can you do? You've got to just roll with the inconvenience." Even after Yankee Clipper Drive, the main road to the airport, reopened at about 5:30 p.m. for drivers to access the terminals, travelers were checking their cell phones to find out whether they still could fly out of Jacksonville or make arrangements for an overnight stay. Michael Stewart, director of external affairs for the airport, said at the May 16 media briefing the airport had not yet calculated the number of flights that were delayed, canceled or diverted due to the closure. Powers said airport video indicated that the fire began in one vehicle on the second floor of the garage and damaged an estimated 50 other cars, burning so intensely that the heat triggered a partial collapse of the garage's second and third floors. A secondary collapse followed about 30 minutes later, and the fire shut down all airport activity for several hours until its evening reopening. As of 4 p.m. that afternoon, Mayor Donna Deegan said at a media briefing that the fire was contained but not yet fully extinguished. Because of the structural damage to the garage, Deegan said that crews had deployed a drone in an effort to confirm that no people were trapped inside the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Also unclear is the timetable for removing vehicles from the damaged building. Powers compared the process to the partial collapse of the Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside parking garage in September 2023. In that case, crews worked through much of the autumn to remove vehicles from that garage using a crane and robotic technology. "I would not expect it to be a short period of time," Powers said. Powers said the garage's most recent inspection was in October 2024. Stewart urged travelers to check with airlines about the status of flights, and recommended that they consider the use of rideshare services to compensate for the loss of parking options. In a social media post, the airport advised that parking would remain "extremely constrained for the foreseeable future." JIA has yet to specify the number of cars remaining in the garage. However, the airport's online parking tracker on the afternoon of the fire recorded 90 percent occupancy for the 1,200-space garage, which if accurate, would amount to about 1,080 vehicles inside the structure. The garage had been busy all day: The airport had announced that the hourly garage was "nearing capacity" at 9:52 a.m. May 16, slightly more than two hours before the fire. The airport announced on the night of May 16 that officials were beginning work on a web page to update people whose vehicles were parked in the hourly garage. Also, the airport set up temporary areas for rental car returns. These are on Staggerwing Court for Alamo, Enterprise and National; on Rental Car Lane for Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and Thrifty; and at the Aviation Authority administrative office at 14201 Pecan Park Road for Sixt. Teresa Stepzinski and Gary T. Mills of the Times-Union contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Massive fire wreaks havoc on Jacksonville airport flights, parking
