The Georgia Ports Authority board, meeting Monday on Jekyll Island, voted to authorize ports executive director Curtis Foltz to issue purchase orders and contracts totaling up to $20 million for the clean-up, site remediation and reconstruction associated with a massive fire at GPA’s Ocean Terminal last month.

The fire destroyed the northern half of Warehouse No. 3 and its contents, approximately 1,800 tons of palletized rubber valued at just under $2 million.

The cause of the fire has not been released. Both the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the state fire marshal’s office are investigating.

“It’s our understanding that ATF has lead on the investigation because the warehouse contained products of international trade,” GPA chief operating officer Griff Lynch said Monday.

The fire, which filled the sky above the terminal with a plume of thick black smoke, broke out shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, and took most of the day to get under control.

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