Crime & Justice 2 min read 5h ago · Updated August 25, 2026 at 01:04 UTC

Man Arrested on Arson Suspicion After Gatwick Car Park Fire

A man was arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire at Caldyne business park near Crawley destroyed approximately 140 vehicles on Saturday night.
The blaze, which erupted just after 9pm roughly eight miles from Gatwick airport, also damaged nearby businesses and caused local power cuts.
The cause of the fire has not been formally confirmed and the investigation is at an early stage.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire tore through a car park used by Gatwick airport passengers, destroying approximately 140 vehicles and causing widespread disruption to nearby businesses and the local power supply.

Blaze erupts near Crawley on Saturday night

The fire broke out at Caldyne business park, near Crawley and roughly eight miles from Gatwick, shortly after 9pm on Saturday evening. Images from the scene showed vehicles engulfed in flames and thick plumes of smoke rising close to overhead power lines. As well as the vehicles destroyed, the blaze damaged businesses in the surrounding area and led to power cuts.

Arrest made on suspicion of arson

A man has been taken into custody on suspicion of arson in connection with the incident. No further details about the suspect or the precise circumstances of the arrest have been confirmed at this stage. The investigation remains at an early stage and the cause of the fire has not yet been formally established. Arson has not been confirmed; it remains an allegation under active investigation.

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The incident adds to a growing number of serious fire-related criminal inquiries in England, including a murder investigation following a fatal blaze in West London. The destruction of 140 passenger vehicles at an airport-adjacent car park represents a significant disruption to travellers and raises questions about security and fire-safety provisions at off-airport parking facilities.

##Arson ##GatwickAirport ##Crawley

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