World News
Man arrested on suspicion of arson after car park fire destroys 140 vehicles near Gatwick Airport
A 67-year-old man was released on bail following a blaze near Crawley that severed power to thousands and destroyed cars used for holiday parking.
The short version
- A 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson following a Saturday night fire at Caldyne business park near Crawley.
- The blaze destroyed approximately 140 vehicles, including holidaymaker cars, and caused damage to nearby automotive businesses.
- The incident triggered power outages affecting more than 2,000 homes and businesses after power lines were isolated for firefighting operations.
- Sussex Police have released the suspect on bail pending further inquiries and are requesting information from the public.
Key facts
- A fire broke out just after 9 p.m. on Saturday at Caldyne business park, approximately eight miles from Gatwick Airport.[The Guardian]
- A 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson and subsequently released on bail pending further inquiries.[The Guardian]
- West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service reported that about 140 vehicles were damaged, including cars left at an unaffiliated holiday parking site.[The Guardian]
- Power was cut to over 2,000 homes and businesses after UK Power Networks isolated an overhead power cable near the blaze.[The Guardian]
- Emergency services deployed eight fire engines and water carriers, reporting no casualties from the incident.[The Guardian]
- London Gatwick clarified that the fire occurred at an unaffiliated third-party parking site not operated or endorsed by the airport.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The precise cause of the fire remains under investigation following the suspect's release on bail.[The Guardian]