October 11th 2024.
The incident that occurred at Luton Airport on October 10, 2023, has been making headlines due to the devastating fire caused by a car in the multi-storey car park. Recently, the first image of the car responsible for the fire has been released to the public.
The picture shows a Red Range Rover, which was fueled by diesel, engulfed in flames. The car had entered the car park at 8.42pm, and even at that point, CCTV footage shows smoke coming from its engine. The driver noticed the smoke and immediately stopped the car. After calling 999, the fire brigade arrived at 8.55pm, but unfortunately, by 9.07pm, the fire had spread to six other cars, resulting in damage to up to 1,300 vehicles.
According to the investigators, this fire was one of the most significant incidents to occur in the area for many years. They also found that the wind blowing through the open-sided car park had aided in spreading the fire more easily. It was also discovered that a sprinkler system could have limited the damage caused by the fire.
The fire crew was assisted by the Luton Airport Fire Service, and their proximity to large water tanks on the adjacent airfield proved to be beneficial. The investigators stated that the installation of sprinkler systems in all buildings has been promoted by the Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service since 2019. However, they cannot mandate the installation of sprinklers in open-sided multi-storey car parks like the Terminal Car Park 2. They suggest that national guidance and legislation should be considered to make automatic fire suppression systems mandatory in all new open-sided multi-storey car parks.
The report also clarified that the presence of electric vehicles in the car park did not have a detrimental impact on the outcome of the fire. However, the car park was completely destroyed, and 1,300 vehicles were lost. The report praised the quick-thinking fire crews who were on the scene and stated that their actions almost certainly saved lives by recognizing the signs of building collapse and evacuating the site.
The fire crews that responded to the incident included teams from Hertfordshire, London, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, and Northamptonshire. Their efforts prevented the fire from spreading to the nearby Luton Dart rail service or Car Park 1. The police investigation has concluded, and the man arrested in connection with the fire will face no further action. The case has now been handed over to the fire service for further action.
The report also mentioned that the man in his 30s, who was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, had no evidence against him. The fire at Luton Airport has been a wake-up call, and the authorities should consider making sprinkler systems mandatory in all open-sided multi-storey car parks to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
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