Fort Myers Fire Destroys 3,500 Rental Cars
The fire started in the rental car overflow area used by car rental companies serving Fort Myers Southwest Florida International Airport.

An arial view of Fort Myers Southwest Florida International Airport.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Matt5067
On Friday, a brush fire in the rental car overflow area at Ft. Myers Southwest Florida International Airport destroyed some 3,500 cars, according to multiple news reports and social media posts. The grassy lot was full of parked rental cars idled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The fire covered 15 acres. No one was injured or at the scene of the blaze.
The lot is used by multiple car rental companies. Fire officials are investigating the possibility that a recently parked car was still warm and ignited the brush.
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