Fire breaks out in an air traffic control tower at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

A 2-alarm fire was reported at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport’s old control tower on Thursday morning, June 20, 2024.

The Charlotte Fire Department responded to the incident around 8:10 a.m. at 5500 Josh Birmingham Parkway on airport property. Upon arrival, emergency crews found heavy smoke showing.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the construction workers who were in the area at the time of the fire were able to self-evacuate without harm. The origin and cause of the fire are still under investigation.

Airport operations were not interrupted due to the fire being in the old control tower, which is no longer in use. Firefighters were able to control the flames within 10 minutes, and a second alarm was triggered as a precautionary measure.

Photos and videos from the scene show smoke billowing from the tower, but the fire was quickly brought under control. The Charlotte Fire Department posted on social media about the incident, and local news outlets provided updates on the situation.