Multiple Secret Service rented vehicles caught fire in a parking lot on Monday.
According to the authorities, the vehicles were rented by the Secret Service to use during President Joe Biden’s recent visit to Nantucket.
“The five vehicles had been rented to some of the dozens of Secret Service agents on the island providing security for President Biden and his family during their annual Thanksgiving visit, two sources confirmed to the Current,” the Nantucket Current reported.
The vehicles burst into flames at Nantucket Airport before 5:30 p.m. just one day after US President Biden left the city following his Nantucket vacation.
In the press release, authorities claimed that an airport staff reportedly noticed that the fire had already been consuming several vehicles in the airport’s rental car overflow area of the airport which prompted the airport to close for a short period of time after first responders immediately controlled the flames.
Amid the investigation, authorities made it clear that there were no injuries. However, the fire had destroyed five cars and came within 40 feet of tanks containing jet fuel.
In a statement released by Nantucket Fire Chief Michael Cranson, the investigation found that the blaze was not suspicious but the connection of the vehicles to President Biden and the Secret Service has caught the media attention, making it a national spotlight that started fueling conspiracy theories about the fire.
In addition, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi also released a statement to the public and revealed that Hertz is investigating the fire, and that the Secret Service is not involved.
He also claimed that he doesn’t have any information on what might have started the fire but they are focusing their investigation on a white Ford Expedition as the initial source of the fire.
Moreover, in the immediate aftermath of the fire, Assistant airport manager Noah Karberg said in an official statement that anytime there is a fire in close proximity to the fuel tanks, there’s a problem. He also made it clear that he did not expect any changes regarding the location of the rental car overflow lot next to the tanks in the future.
“The standards for the fuel farm are all compliant with the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association). It is a concern having any sort of fire near the fuel farm but there was no damage to the fence and no damage to the tanks. I don’t know the cause of the fire but this isn’t an everyday event. Last summer we finished the conversion of our fuel farm fire suppression system so it exists, it is there, it works, and it is a chlorine-free foam. Obviously we never want anything to catch on fire but absent from any further input from the fire department, we don’t have any changes planned.” Karberg said.
The airport also issued an official statement following the controversial incident.
“At approximately 5:22 am Airport shift staff observed an active fire in the rental car overflow area through the Airport’s Closed Circuit Television System. Staff activated the Alert system and responded to the fire in Airport-3, where they were met by responding units from Nantucket Fire Department and Nantucket Police Department. Combined fire resources responded and contained the fire. Several vehicles were damaged. The Airport is currently coordinating with rental car agencies and agency partners to ensure scene safety. There is no longer an active fire at this time: the Airport is open, and aeronautical operations are not affected,” the airport said.
