Lightning May Have Sparked Clearwater Airpark Fire, Officials Say

A Wednesday afternoon fire at Clearwater Airpark resulted in a brief evacuation before flames were extinguished.

According to city spokeswoman Joelle Castelli, the fire broke out in a shed next to the fuel tanks.

“It was approximately 10 feet from two 10,000 gallon fuel tanks,” she wrote in an email to media. “One tank held jet fuel and the other tank held 100 low lead fuel.”

It is believed lightning may have caused the blaze, but the exact cause remains under investigation.

“The shed had two drums of test fuel from both of those tanks,” Castelli added.

The airpark was the only place evacuated while the fire was brought under control.

The 1000 N. Hercules Ave. airport has served the area since 1939, according to its website.

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