It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since the catastrophic fire at Luton Airport’s car park, a blaze that devastated more than 1,300 vehicles.
Recently, new details have emerged about the incident, shedding light on the events leading up to that fateful night.
The Ill-Fated Vehicle
The vehicle at the center of this disaster was a red Range Rover Sport, and it was captured on CCTV just minutes before the flames erupted.
Fire investigators revealed that this diesel vehicle was not a hybrid or electric model, dispelling any assumptions about its fuel type.
The fire report, released on October 10, 2023, suggests that a functioning sprinkler system could have significantly reduced the fire’s impact, leading experts to advocate for mandatory sprinklers, even in open-sided car parks.
Timeline of Events
On that night, the Range Rover entered the short-term No. 2 car park at around 20:42 BST.
The CCTV footage reveals that smoke was already emanating from the vehicle’s engine.
By 20:47, the driver had parked on the third floor, exited the car, and called emergency services.
Fire crews arrived about ten minutes later, but by then, multiple cars were already engulfed in flames, with at least three visible from outside the car park.
The Scale of Destruction
The report described the fire as one of the most significant incidents within the Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service (BFRS) area in recent years.
Fueled by wind gusts through the open structure, the fire rapidly spread, ultimately leading to the partial collapse of the car park and the destruction of 1,352 vehicles.
Investigators noted that while sprinklers weren’t mandatory for open-sided structures, their presence could have altered the fire’s spread.
A Call for Change
The BFRS has been advocating for sprinkler installation in all new buildings since 2019, but they cannot enforce such measures for structures like Terminal Car Park 2.
The report strongly suggests that national legislation should mandate automatic fire suppression systems in all open-sided multi-storey car parks to prevent future tragedies.
Clarifying Misconceptions
Interestingly, the report clarified that there was no evidence to suggest that parked electric vehicles had any adverse effect on the fire’s outcome.
It highlighted the crucial role of the quick-thinking fire crews who were able to identify the early signs of a building collapse, leading to timely evacuations that likely saved lives.
Crews from neighboring counties, including Hertfordshire, London, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, and Northamptonshire, joined the efforts to control the blaze.
Conclusion and Investigation Update
Fortunately, the fire service managed to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to nearby infrastructure, such as the Luton Dart rail service.
As for the man arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, police confirmed earlier this year that no further action would be taken, concluding their investigation and passing the case to the fire service.
With these insights, it’s evident that lessons can be learned from the Luton Airport fire to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
The push for better fire safety measures continues, ensuring that safety remains a top priority.
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