Car park blaze destroys 24 vehicles
2nd September 2010
Holidaymakers returning to a London airport are in for a nasty shock after a sudden fire left 24 cars in ruins, with car insurance worries set to obliterate their happy memories.
The Stansted Airport car park was sealed off after an electrical fault in one of the cars apparently sent it up in flames.
Heavy winds reaching up to 50mph sent the fire dancing along the cars parked in Zone C, creating a massive pyre which took 25 firemen more than an hour to control.
Although the fire caused £250,000 worth of damage, the 24 claimants may struggle to get compensation under their car insurance cover unless the original faulty car is identified - a difficult task when the vehicles are little more than burned-out husks.
A Stansted Airport spokesman said: "It will be an unpleasant surprise for the owners returning to find their cars burnt-out. But we are arranging free taxis to take them home or a 40% discount with a car rental firm here at the airport.
"A police and fire service investigation is under way and that zone is closed off to new arrivals."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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