Miami – Fire in a private ground traffic control tower briefly sent clouds of smoke billowing over Miami International Airport today.
The flames appeared to have been contained to the highest level of the tower, which is under construction.
Firefighters had to approach the fire cautiously because there were propane tanks on the top of the tower, Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Cristina Armand said.
They found a tar kettle on fire, she said.
There were no evacuations and no immediate reports of injuries, Armand said.
The structure is an American Airlines ramp control tower that would deal only with aircraft on the ground around the passenger gates, said Jim Marinitti, president of the National Air Traffic Controller’s Association in Miami.
It does not deal with landing aircraft, FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.
