MOUNT DORA, Fla. – In 2025, a significant fire erupted at Jacksonville International Airport’s parking garage, causing damage to more than 50 vehicles.
In another incident closer to home, smoke engulfed a parking structure near the University of Central Florida in February.
Mount Dora firefighters are keen on preventing similar incidents in their city and are working diligently on preparedness strategies.
“We’re evaluating various tactics in case a vehicle fire occurs within a parking deck,” Fire Chief Joseph Hightower explained. “We’re assessing the vehicle’s location and considering the potential for the fire to spread to other vehicles.”
Firefighting teams practiced handling a real-life fire scenario in a parking garage situated on North Donelly Street, arriving swiftly, disembarking, and effectively extinguishing the blaze.
Chief Hightower emphasized that upon reaching the scene, firefighters need to take numerous factors into account, including the number of cars present.
“We had to consider the weather when we in come in through the park and they can push in that fire with force, obviously smoke that goes along with it,” said Chief Hightower.
As electric-powered cars become more popular, the way to respond if one catches fire is also different.
“There’s fire, blankets, there’s, you know, nozzles, piercing nozzles that you’re able to go in and pierce the battery itself to put water,” said the chief.
He says it’s especially crucial for his firefighters to stay prepared since many parking garages lack a sprinkler system.
