Ian Patrick, FISM News
A fire involving five cars at the Nantucket Memorial Airport was later discovered to have previously been rented by the Secret Service for transporting President Biden, according to corroborating reports.
Monday morning a fire broke out among rental cars found just 40 feet away from jet fuel tanks at the airport. No injuries were reported.
The cars were determined to have been those used by the Secret Service during the Thanksgiving weekend when the Biden family was vacationing in the area over the holiday. The vehicles were reportedly returned less than 24 hours after the fire broke out.
In a statement seen by the Nantucket Current, the airport gave more details on the blaze:
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 proximity of the fire to jet fuel tanks is concerning, said assistant airport manager Noah Karberg, but there was “no damage to the fence and no damage to the tanks.” Karberg expects the rental lot to remain where it is, even after this recent blaze.
Despite the connection to the President, Nantucket Fire Chief Michael Cranson determined that the fire itself was not suspicious. Officials believe that the fire was caused by one of the cars: a Ford Expedition, which was under a safety recall from Ford due to a faulty battery junction box.
Speaking to NBC News, Secret Service Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that Hertz had rented the cars to the agency and was investigating the fire.