A significant fire that destroyed approximately 140 vehicles at a car park near Gatwick Airport on Saturday evening has led to the arrest of a 67-year-old man on suspicion of arson. The blaze occurred at Caldyne Business Park in Rowfant, West Sussex, and was reported to emergency services around 8:56 p.m.
Eight fire engines and two water carriers were deployed to tackle the "significant and complex" fire, which involved a workshop, vehicles including electric and heavy goods vehicles, and cylinders. Fire crews worked through the night to bring the inferno under control. They remained on scene Sunday to dampen down remaining hotspots.
The fire damaged high-voltage electrical equipment near the car park, resulting in a temporary power cut to more than 2,000 local homes and businesses. Electricity has since been restored. The resilience and emergencies team from West Sussex County Council provided support to vulnerable customers affected by the outage.
While an estimated 140 vehicles were damaged, officials confirmed there were no casualties as a result of the fire. The car park is understood to be primarily used by travelers heading to Gatwick Airport.
The arrested 67-year-old man has been released on bail pending further investigation. Sussex Police and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service are conducting a joint investigation into the incident. Authorities have asked anyone with information to report it online or by calling 101, quoting serial number 1504 of August 22.
