Luton Airport fire update as 1,300 destroyed cars 'could have been saved' by one thing
A staggering 1,300 vehicles were destroyed when a fire ripped through a popular Luton Airport car park last Autumn.
More than 1,000 cars could have been saved if one vital tool was installed in Luton Airport’s doomed multi-storey car park, according to a new report into the tragedy.
Experts have stressed that a sprinkler system fitted inside the building could have helped extinguish the flames before the fire got out of control.
The incident report from Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said sprinklers may have “delayed the pattern of fire spread”.
This may have led to a “successful outcome” which may have seen more of the 1,352 vehicles saved from destruction.
The blaze ripped through the popular multi-storey long-stay car park one year today, on 10 October 2023, but the ruins have since been destroyed.
The report said: “If a suitable sprinkler system had been installed, it may have changed and delayed the pattern of fire spread, increasing the chances of a successful outcome once firefighting operations had begun.
“A combination of the wind spreading the fire through the open-sided car park, the impact of running fuel fires, and the early onset of signs of structural collapse all prevented internal offensive firefighting from continuing and contributed to the significant scale of the fire and subsequent financial loss.”
According to the new study, the fire is understood to have been started by a red Range Rover that entered the car park just before 9pm.
The vehicle already had “light smoke” coming out of it before it entered the car park in an ominous warning sign.
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It is believed this was due to an “electrical fault or component failure” in the diesel model.
However, the report concluded that the driver was not aware of any problem until flames became visible while on the third floor.
It was seemingly too late to stop the blaze which quickly spread to other vehicles and around the site.
But, Alberto Martin, chief executive of London Luton Airport, has confirmed work has already started on a new site to replace the old one.
He responded: “We welcome the findings of the report, which highlights the efforts of the airport fire service and our wider team.
“We continue to work closely with Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and all agencies in relation to this incident.
“We are grateful for their response to the incident, and for the understanding shown by our passengers and business partners.
“Construction on a new car park is underway, which includes plans for a fire suppressant system.”
