A fast-moving blaze ripped through the second level of a parking garage at Harry Reid International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, sending a thick column of black smoke up over the east side of the Las Vegas Strip and stopping a lot of travelers in their tracks.
Eyewitness video and photos showed flames and heavy smoke pouring out of the structure just before mid-afternoon, as emergency crews rushed in and authorities labeled the situation a developing incident, telling travelers to stay tuned for updates.
Officials say multiple vehicles were involved
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officials told FOX5 that five vehicles caught fire on the second floor of the airport parking structure and that a dark plume of smoke was clearly visible from nearby roadways.
The station reported that smoke began appearing just before 3:30 p.m. and that fire crews were actively working to knock down the flames. As of that report, it was described as a developing story, with no immediate injuries reported.
Airport updates and operations
News 3 LV also reported that a fire had been reported in an airport parking garage and noted that details were still preliminary. The outlet said more information would be released as it became available.
Travelers were urged to check flight status directly with their airlines or with the airport to stay on top of any potential operational changes.
Why garage fires are tricky
Parking garage blazes can spread quickly and create serious access problems for firefighters working inside enclosed levels. In November 2019, a car fire on level three of the Terminal 3 parking garage at the airport damaged seven vehicles. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Clark County Fire Battalion Chief Joseph Page said, "All parking garage fires have their challenges." The incident highlighted how fast flames and smoke can affect nearby cars and even other levels in a structure.
What to watch
Investigators and fire crews remained at the scene, and officials said they expect to release more details once the area is fully secured and assessed.
Anyone flying into or out of Harry Reid International Airport is advised to keep an eye on updates from their airline and the airport for any new alerts related to the incident.
