TAMPA, Fla. — Investigators have identified the source of the intense blaze that tore through a parking garage at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay on Monday, pinning the destruction on a single minivan.
According to an update released Tuesday, a 2015 Dodge Caravan sparked the fire. Officials noted the vehicle had recently undergone engine repair work before bursting into flames on the second floor of the garage. The fire quickly spread from the van to nine adjacent vehicles, creating the massive column of black smoke that triggered a second-alarm response.
While the fire is out, the impact on the building itself is still being measured. Structural engineers are currently on-site working to determine if the intense heat compromised the integrity of the concrete parking deck.
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The incident began Monday at 12:50 p.m. at the hotel on Bayport Drive. When Tampa Fire Rescue crews arrived, they were met with such heavy smoke and dangerous conditions that they were forced to pull back and fight the flames defensively using ladder trucks and standpipe operations.
Despite the destruction of property, the fire was contained to the second floor and did not reach the hotel.
No evacuations were necessary, and no injuries were reported to civilians or firefighters.
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