Police contacted affected owners after 12 vehicles were damaged and removed from Salt Lake City International Airport’s economy parking lot.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Travelers whose vehicles were caught in a fire at Salt Lake City International Airport faced damaged or destroyed cars Friday after flames spread through part of the economy parking lot, affecting 12 vehicles before crews extinguished the blaze.
No injuries were reported, but the Oct. 23 fire left authorities contacting vehicle owners and clearing damaged cars from the Blue Economy Lot. Investigators traced the blaze to one parked vehicle and were examining a possible electrical malfunction, though fire officials had not announced a final cause. Wind and the close spacing of vehicles helped the fire spread, authorities said.
Salt Lake City Police Lt. Scott Hall said the vehicle where the fire began had been parked at the airport at about 10 p.m. Thursday. The airport reported the fire at about 5:45 a.m. Friday. Within minutes, flames had spread to neighboring vehicles in the Blue Lot near section A.
Airport security cameras helped officials determine which vehicle caught fire first. That gave investigators a starting point for examining the blaze, but it did not establish what caused the initial ignition. The Salt Lake City Fire Department said an electrical malfunction was being investigated, not confirmed as the final cause.
The Salt Lake City Police Department contacted owners affected by the fire, according to local reporting. The damaged vehicles were then taken to an impound lot, clearing them from the airport parking area. Authorities had not publicly detailed where individual owners would retrieve their vehicles or what repair, towing or insurance costs they might face.
Officials also had not released an estimated total value of the damaged property. Reports said some vehicles sustained serious damage or were destroyed, but authorities had not provided an individual condition report for each of the 12 vehicles. That leaves the overall financial impact unknown while owners assess what happened to their cars.
The airport’s Blue Economy Lot is on the north side of the economy parking area and includes several shuttle stops serving the terminal. Airport parking is commonly used by passengers who leave their vehicles while traveling, meaning some affected owners may not have been at the airport when the fire occurred.
Salt Lake City International Airport’s published parking terms state that vehicles are parked at the operator’s risk and that the airport or parking operator does not assume responsibility for damage, loss, theft or fire. The publicly posted terms do not establish how any individual claim arising from Friday’s fire will be handled, and officials had not announced claim or reimbursement decisions connected with the incident.
Airport information also lists assistance for travelers who return to find routine vehicle problems such as dead batteries, flat tires or empty fuel tanks. Friday’s incident was substantially different because multiple vehicles were damaged in a fire and required removal from the lot.
Authorities reported no injuries to vehicle owners, other civilians or firefighters. The blaze was extinguished after spreading among the closely parked cars, and the affected vehicles were removed. Available reports did not establish that the incident caused flight cancellations or terminal disruptions.
As of Saturday, the investigation remained focused on determining why the first vehicle caught fire. Officials had identified where the blaze began but had not announced a final cause or a total financial loss, leaving those questions unresolved for investigators and affected vehicle owners.
Author note: Last updated Oct. 24, 2026.