Second man arrested for ‘arson’ after inferno destroyed 140 cars at Gatwick Airport parking site

COPS have arrested a second man on suspicion of arson after a savage blaze ripped through 140 vehicles at a Gatwick Airport parking site. Police and firefighters scrambled to the scene of the blaze at Caldyne Business Park in Rowfant, West Sussex, just after 9pm on Saturday. The scene of the huge blaze near Gatwick Airport Dozens of cars were damaged in the blaze Credit: Eddie Mitchell Thick black smoke poured into the night sky as the powerful blaze ripped through the site. Drivers were “left in the dark” as they desperately tried to find out if their vehicles had been caught up in the blaze. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Shocking images of the aftermath showed rows of charred, unrecognisable cars. It is understood that the site is predominantly used for people parking their cars and heading to Gatwick Airport. A 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson on Saturday. The horror blaze ripped through the industrial estate and damaged multiple cars Shocking images of the aftermath showed rows of charred, unrecognisable cars Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk Cops have arrested a second man, 29, on the same charge. UK Power Network confirmed it was forced to shut off power to more than 2,000 homes while crews tackled the incident at the industrial estate. A West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service spokeswoman confirmed that “approximately 140 vehicles were destroyed in the fire”. Most read in The Sun Worried drivers told The Sun they were unable to contact the parking company and have no idea if their cars are damaged or not. Sam and George Smith, 51 and 53, said they paid £105 to Sapphire Parking through an app last week. Two men have been arrested on suspicion of arson Credit: Eddie Mitchell The cause of the fire is unclear, but fire services say it involved a workshop, electric and heavy goods vehicles and cylinders Credit: Eddie Mitchell He said they were told their car is fine but later were informed the company couldn’t access the site as it’s cordoned off. “So I don’t know how he’d know that. I think they’re fobbing people off… most of the cars are unrecognizable anyway. “You can’t tell if your car is destroyed or not. We’re in the dark, we don’t know anything.” Other worried customers posted on social media saying they couldn’t get through to the company to find out if their cars were caught up in the inferno. A Sapphire Parking spokesperson told The Sun: “The police and fire service are currently preventing anyone from entering the compound due to ongoing safety concerns, as they have not yet been able to establish whether any hazardous materials or objects remain within the site. What are your rights if your car is damaged in a fire? Whether you can claim money depends on a number of factors Liability depends on where the fire started, which must be established through a technical expert assessment. Only once that investigation is complete can it be clear which insurer is responsible for compensating the losses. If the investigation finds that the fire began in the vehicle itself, the insurance policies linked to that vehicle come into play. But your car is damaged in an accident – like a fire – your insurance company will assess the damage and decide whether your car should be written off. If your car is written off, your insurer will typically pay you the market value of your car just before the accident or damage occurred, minus your policy excess and any outstanding finance. However, if the fire is traced to a fault in the building’s electrical installation, a charging point, or any other fixed garage infrastructure, liability may fall on the building’s management. For example, this could be the residents’ management company or on the entity responsible for installing and maintaining that equipment. Where the fire damages other cars, the garage structure or third-party property, liability has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Exactly the same principles apply to electric vehicles. It depends if the fire began in the high-voltage battery or another component of the car. However, if the vehicle was connected to a charging point, the investigation must also determine whether the fire started in the car or in the charging infrastructure. “We have been advised that we should be able to gain access to the compound on Tuesday, subject to clearance from the relevant authorities.Once we are permitted to enter, we will immediately assess the vehicles and the extent of the damage. “At that point, we will be in a position to provide our customers with accurate information regarding their vehicles and the impact of the fire.We sincerely apologise for the uncertainty and inconvenience this situation is causing. “Please be assured that we will update you as soon as we have access to the site and have been able to complete our initial assessment.” The cause of the fire is unclear, but fire services say it involved a workshop, electric and heavy goods vehicles and cylinders. Nearby residents were advised over the weekend to keep windows and doors closed and members of the public were also asked to avoid the area. No one was injured in the fire, which roared well into the early hours. The car park is often used by holidaymakers, those staying at nearby holiday parks and local businesses. A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “We are aware of a fire at an unaffiliated third-party car parking site, which occurred on Saturday evening, and understand how concerning and distressing this will be for any passengers whose vehicles may have been affected. “We are advising any passengers who are concerned that their vehicle might have been affected to contact their parking operator directly. “The parking company is not endorsed or operated by London Gatwick.”