Fire near Tampa airport sends smoke into the sky, photos surface

“Firefighters are working with the company’s grapple to move piles of metal as they search for fire,” the fire department wrote in a post on X shortly after 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

ORIGINAL STORY: A massive fire erupted near Tampa International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, with photos emerging showing thick smoke billowing into the sky.

According to Fox 13 News, the blaze began at a junkyard located off W. Hesperides Avenue and Osborne Avenue. The fire did not disrupt any airport flights.

Tampa International Airport confirmed the fire, stating, “TPA is aware of a fire with visible smoke near the Airport. The fire is offsite and is not impacting Airport operations.”

In response to an inquiry, the airport clarified that there was no active fire on airport property, saying, “We do not have an active fire on our property/airfield, but we can also see the plume from here. Airport operations are not impacted at this time.”

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Longtime MLB reporter Bryan Hoch shared footage of the thick black smoke, posting on X, “Big smoke billowing from the area near Tampa International Airport.”

MLB reporter Gary Phillips also posted a photo showing the fire, writing, “Some serious smoke at/near the Tampa airport can be seen from Steinbrenner Field. Lots of sirens sounding in the distance.”

The cause of the fire remains unknown, though no injuries have been reported.