The Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has published the full investigation report into the devastating fire at Luton Airport’s Terminal Car Park 2, which occurred on 10 October 2023. The blaze destroyed over 1,300 vehicles and required the efforts of more than 100 firefighters at its peak. The report, released a year after the incident, emphasizes the need for mandatory sprinkler systems in multi-storey car parks to prevent similar disasters in the future.
The fire, described as one of the most significant incidents the service has faced in recent years, was confirmed in March 2024 to have started accidentally in a diesel vehicle, not an electric vehicle, as some initial reports had speculated. The flames spread rapidly, exacerbated by strong winds and fuel leakage, resulting in the complete loss of the five-storey car park.
According to the joint investigation by Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Bedfordshire Police, the open-sided design of the car park allowed the wind to fan the flames, while running fuel from the vehicles further accelerated the fire’s spread. These factors made firefighting efforts extremely challenging, prompting a major incident declaration 90 minutes after the first emergency call at 20:47 on 10 October. The firefighting operation, which involved over 100 firefighters at its height, continued for nearly 12 hours, officially concluding at 09:13 the next morning.
In light of these findings, Chief Fire Officer Andy Hopkinson has renewed calls for stricter fire safety regulations, including the installation of sprinklers in multi-storey car parks. Hopkinson pointed to global research that shows property loss is reduced by 95% when sprinklers are installed.
“The evidence is clear: automatic water suppression systems, such as sprinklers, are crucial in limiting the spread of fire and reducing damage,” said Hopkinson. “We are now pushing for national guidance and legislation to mandate sprinklers in open-sided car parks to prevent future disasters.”
The report also notes that in January 2024, Hopkinson wrote to the owners of Luton Airport, recommending the installation of sprinklers in the new car park, which is currently under construction. The service understands that a suitable sprinkler system will be included in the design.
This call for action follows similar recommendations for other high-risk buildings, such as the recent push to make sprinklers mandatory in new care homes. The service aims to use the lessons learned from the Luton Airport fire to support the National Fire Chiefs Council in lobbying for updated national fire safety regulations.
The detailed 110-page report includes a timeline of the incident, outlining the rapid escalation of the fire and the extensive operational response that followed. With such incidents posing significant risks to life and property, the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to ensuring safer building practices moving forward.
