Construction Part Of Expansion Plans

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 07.11.07 1700 EDT: Work crews repairing the roof of a vacant Miami International Airport control tower inadvertantly started a fire that caused some tense moments Wednesday afternoon.

A tar pot spilled over under the structure's tower cab and set the roof on fire, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesman Cristina Armand told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. The gate assignment tower was otherwise unoccupied at the time.

Airport spokesman Greg Chin said the new ground control tower is part of a new north terminal for American Airlines, to be completed by 2011.

No delays were reported, and Chin confirmed the fire did not affect regular flight operations at MIA.

ORIGINAL REPORT

1400 EDT: CNN reports an unoccupied ground control tower at Miami International Airport is on fire.

The tower -- "the new gate assignment tower," reports the television news service -- is currently under construction, part of an expansion of the airport's north side.

Black smoke is coming from the floor immediately below the tower cab. Fire crews appear to be bringing the blaze under control.

The fire does not appear to be affecting either air or ground operations at MIA, and no injuries have been reported.

ANN will continue to follow this breaking news story.

FMI: www.miami-airport.com