Huge inferno damages 140 cars at holiday parking site near Gatwick Airport as eight fire engines battled blaze: Man arrested on suspicion of arson
A 67-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a large fire destroyed around 140 cars at a car park near Gatwick Airport used mainly by holidaymakers. Fire crews were called to Caldyne Business Park in Rowfant, near Crawley, West Sussex, at 8.56pm on Saturday to tackle what fire services described as a "significant and complex" blaze involving a workshop, vehicles including electric and heavy goods vehicles, and gas cylinders. The man has since been bailed while a joint investigation with Sussex Police continues, and there have been no reported casualties.
Eight fire engines and two water carriers worked through the night to bring the fire under control, while more than 2,000 homes temporarily lost power after high-voltage equipment was damaged, with vulnerable residents supported by West Sussex County Council's emergency team. Electricity has since been restored, and by Sunday morning crews remained on site damping down hotspots, hoping to leave later that day. The public has been urged to avoid the area, and affected car owners have been advised to contact their parking operator directly, with Sussex Police appealing for information via 101.
- Man, 67, arrested on arson suspicion after Gatwick-area car park fire
- Around 140 cars destroyed; no casualties reported
- Fire cut power to 2,000+ homes; investigation ongoing