3,500 Rental Cars Destroyed in Fire Near Florida Int'l Airport (Video)

A fire broke out near Southeast Florida International Airport, destroying more than 3,500 rental cars that were being stored in a grassy field.

The fire began on Friday at the airport in Fort Myers, Florida, and destroyed only 20 cars in the grassy rental car, according to the fire department officials, who added that, by the time, the number rose to 100 cars.

https://youtu.be/blgul_xxrJw

According to CNN, the rental cars were parked in an overflow area surrounded by brush and grass. An investigation found the grassy area caught fire and helped the flames spread so quickly, but officials did not mention any other cause for the fire.

Numerous water drops to contain the fire happened over 18 hours, and on Saturday around 10:30 a.m., officials declared they contained the fire.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office's aviation unit, 80 water drops took place in an effort to contain the fire. At its peak, the fire engulfed five to six acres of land and rental cars, which made for a stunning sight in the area as clouds of smoke billowed into the air.

a Lee County Port Authority spokesperson pointed out that the fire had destroyed more than 3,500 rental cars.

The black clouds of smoke could be seen for miles around Fort Myers, a city of about 82,000 people in southwest Florida. Ground and aerial support was provided by Florida Forestry Service and multiple fire departments

The fire was contained and extinguished on Saturday, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Rental cars around the country have been put aside into overflow containment in parking lots and fields as traveling slows because of the coronavirus.