Luton Airport, located north of London experienced a ghastly fire accident that broke out in one of its multi-storey parking lots. The incident occurred late on Tuesday, local time, leading to the partial collapse of Car Park 2.
The fire involved numerous vehicles and resulted in a significant structural collapse of half of the parking structure according to the Bedfordshire Fire Department.
Footage on social media showed the fire continued into the early hours of Wednesday. Multiple fire engines were on the scene, with loud explosions heard as cars in the car park went up in flames.
Emergency services are working to prevent the fire from spreading to other nearby buildings and vehicles at the airport.
While no casualties were reported, the East England Ambulance Service noted that one member of the public and six firefighters experienced smoke inhalation during the incident.
The East of England Ambulance confirmed that five people suffering from smoke inhalation had been taken to hospitals for treatment, and a sixth person received treatment at the scene but did not require further medical attention.
In response to the fire and ongoing efforts to extinguish it, the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service declared it a major incident.
The airport’s website described the affected car park as new and offering secure, on-site parking.
The airport has taken measures to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. It has suspended all flights until at least 3 p.m. on Wednesday, and access to the airport remains significantly restricted.
Local residents have been advised to keep doors and windows closed and avoid the area.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and passengers expecting to fly from Luton Airport will experience flight disruptions.
