Moment Range Rover explodes before £20m multi-storey structure collapses - sparking travel chaos for up to 50,000 passengers

[Social Media]

 

This is the moment a Range Rover exploded at Luton Airport before a blaze that ripped through a car park and sparked travel chaos for thousands of passengers.

One hundred firefighters spent 12 hours battling the inferno at the airport's Terminal Car Park Two when the £20million block was engulfed by flames and caved in just before 9pm last night. 

Up to 50,000 passengers are suffering disruption at the airport, which only reopened at 3pm this afternoon, as more than 140 flights were cancelled.

 

Five people were taken to hospital during the fire, which was finally extinguished this morning.  

Investigators believe the blaze was started when a diesel car suffered an electrical fault or leaking fuel line.

The fire then spread as a number of electric vehicles burst into flames in a domino effect, one firefighter suggested. As many as 1,500 vehicles are feared to have been damaged.

Dramatic footage on CCTV captured the moment the explosion erupted, as light fixtures crashed from the ceiling and a fireball soared through the building. The vehicle appears to be in the middle of the track used to get around the car park, rather than a designated space.

The car park, which opened in 2019 as part of a £20million modernisation drive, did not have sprinklers. One fire chief urged the airport to install them in existing and future car parks, adding that it 'may have made a positive impact on this incident'.

He added that the building's open sides meant the fire will have spread 'horizontally' before it went up through the structure. The inferno was so hot that the car park building is unsalvageable and will eventually be demolished, sources claimed.

The temperature of the flames soared well over the 600C (1,110F) that would destroy the building's integrity, and one fire officer said it would have hit six million watts.

The contractor for the car park was Buckingham Construction, which went into administration last month with 500 jobs lost. Lancashire-based Raised Floor Solutions installed part of the floor system but had no design involvement.

It comes as devastated Britons told MailOnline how their cars went up in flames at the site - including one couple who had parked a new £48,000 Mercedes there.

Some are scrambling for parking spaces at different sites while several chain hotels including the local Marriott, Best Western and Hampton have sold out for tonight.

 

FULL STORY

 

[Crossy]

Oops, no sprinklers!!!

 

Meanwhile in "third-world" Thailand!!

 

[JeffersLos]

8 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Meanwhile in "third-world" Thailand!!

But there's a padlock on the water valve and the fire exit doors are chained shut. 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

This is the moment a Range Rover exploded at Luton Airport before a blaze that ripped through a car park and sparked travel chaos for thousands of passengers.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

Investigators believe the blaze was started when a diesel car suffered an electrical fault or leaking fuel line.

They don't specifically state the Diesel car was the Range Rover, but diesel does not to my knowledge explode by itself, which is why it is a preferable fuel for tanks.

 

[impulse]

I don't doubt that an electrical problem may have burnt up a Land Rover.  They've been notorious for electrical problems since British Leyland.  But they're claiming it was a diesel, and diesel doesn't just "explode".

I kinda wonder if the driver was a military aged Middle Eastern man whose skin may still be pruned up from his long boat ride.

 

 

[Tug]

Sprinklers won’t put out an electric car Fire actually that’s one major problem with them they don’t have a way to put them out 

[JonnyF]

30 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

 

 

They don't specifically state the Diesel car was the Range Rover, but diesel does not to my knowledge explode by itself, which is why it is a preferable fuel for tanks.

 

Yes very suspicious. I suspect it was a Diesel hybrid. The images of it burning are coming from the bottom of the car, not the engine bay - and it isn't the black smoke that Diesel tends to generate, looks like a battery fire.

 

 

Obviously that won't be reported as it doesn't fit the narrative of EV's saving the world.

 

Either way, once the fire spread to the EV's nearby it was Goodnight Vienna. Once those things burn, it's a case of standing back and waiting. Expect more of these incidents as EV's become more commonplace. 

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

Oops, no sprinklers!!!

They're lucky the fire didn't spread to Luton town centre.

 

It could have caused millions of pounds worth of improvements. ????

[richard_smith237]

Where's Khun LA ???.....   Wouldn't have happened if it was an MG EV !!! 

[Georgealbert]

57 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Yes very suspicious. I suspect it was a Diesel hybrid. The images of it burning are coming from the bottom of the car, not the engine bay - and it isn't the black smoke that Diesel tends to generate, looks like a battery fire.

 

 

Obviously that won't be reported as it doesn't fit the narrative of EV's saving the world.

 

Either way, once the fire spread to the EV's nearby it was Goodnight Vienna. Once those things burn, it's a case of standing back and waiting. Expect more of these incidents as EV's become more commonplace. 

Another post, with no idea what they are talking about.

 

Do you believe there were no car fires before EVs?

 

You display you have zero knowledge of fire. Attached below is the report of the Liverpool car park fire, 2017, shows similar problems.

 

https://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/media/1592/kings-dock-car-park-fire-sir.pdf
 

Maybe best not post you own opinions, based on your own agenda, and keep to the facts.

[JonnyF]

35 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Another post, with no idea what they are talking about.

 

Do you believe there were no car fires before EVs?

 

You display you have zero knowledge of fire. Attached below is the report of the Liverpool car park fire, 2017, shows similar problems.

 

https://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/media/1592/kings-dock-car-park-fire-sir.pdf
 

Maybe best not post you own opinions, based on your own agenda, and keep to the facts.

Nice first post. What's your other username? Been suspended?

 

Yes of course there were car fires before EV's, but EV fires are harder to extinguish than gas car fires. 

 

So we should expect more serious fires in car parks, shopping malls etc. as more EV's hit the market.

 

 

Saving the planet, one lithium battery at a time.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Sprinklers won’t put out an electric car Fire actually that’s one major problem with them they don’t have a way to put them out 

The purpose of sprinklers is not to put out fires, they are installed to prevent/slow fire flash over and hot gas accumulation/spreading, thereby giving occupants more time to escape.

 

The achieve this by cooling the hot gasses in the space above and around the fire.

 

With very few exceptions sprinklers are not required (in the UK) in unoccupied buildings, dedicated car park structures being an example.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

17 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

So we should expect more serious fires in car parks, shopping malls etc. as more EV's hit the market.

That would only be true if EV’s contain more fuel for any fire that occurs.

 

The Energy/Fuel/Oxygen Fire Triangle for an EV has higher Energy but less fuel than an ICV which transports its energy as liquid/gas fuel.

 

 

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

That would only be true if EV’s contain more fuel for any fire that occurs.

 

The Energy/Fuel/Oxygen Fire Triangle for an EV has higher Energy but less fuel than an ICV which transports its energy as liquid/gas fuel.

 

 

Please watch the YouTube video I posted above. You will learn a lot.

 

Lithium fires are incredibly hard to extiniguish.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/09/tech/lithium-ion-battery-fires/index.html#:~:text=“In all of these fires,and so it's particularly dangerous.”

 

[Georgealbert]

27 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Nice first post. What's your other username? Been suspended?

 

Yes of course there were car fires before EV's, but EV fires are harder to extinguish than gas car fires. 

 

So we should expect more serious fires in car parks, shopping malls etc. as more EV's hit the market.

 

 

Saving the planet, one lithium battery at a time.

As a recent retired senior fire officer, with just under 40 years experience, and over 1000 fire investigations, it is nice to be lectured by a bar stool expert.

[JonnyF]

Just now, Georgealbert said:

As a recent retired senior fire officer, with just under 40 years experience, and over 1000 fire investigations, it is nice to be lectured by a bar stool expert.

I bet you were in the SAS as well right? Actually don't answer that - you could tell me, but then you'd have to kill me ????.

 

Back in reality, which part of the YouTube video that I posted above do you disagree with specifically, and why? I look forward to hearing your expertise that contradicts the information in the video.

[Georgealbert]

Just now, JonnyF said:

I bet you were in the SAS as well right? Actually don't answer that - you could tell me, but then you'd have to kill me ????.

 

Back in reality, which part of the YouTube video that I posted above do you disagree with specifically, and why? I look forward to hearing your expertise that contradicts the information in the video.

I do not need to lie, i know what i am talking about, unlike mny.

 

After looking through your posts, you need to google Dunning Kruger.

 

Life is better if you get off that bar stool you seem to like to lecture from.

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Georgealbert said:

I do not need to lie, i know what i am talking about, unlike mny.

 

After looking through your posts, you need to google Dunning Kruger.

 

Life is better if you get off that bar stool you seem to like to lecture from.

Did you miss my question? I will repeat it.

 

Which part of the YouTube video above do you disagree with, and why? I want specific answers from you, facts - not drivel about bar stools and your fake fire fighting career.

[Georgealbert]

4 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Did you miss my question? I will repeat it.

 

Which part of the YouTube video above do you disagree with, and why? I want specific answers from you, facts - not drivel about bar stools and your fake fire fighting career.

All fire services adapt procedures to deal with any new risks, vehicles, building, construction material, etc.
 

Read this from my professional body, that is why I can use FIFireE after my name.

 

https://www.ife.org.uk/ife-blog/tackling-fires-in-electric-vehicles-
 

Information from experts, not someone in a youtube video that meets your own agenda.

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

All fire services adapt procedures to deal with any new risks, vehicles, building, construction material, etc.
 

Read this from my professional body, that is why I can use FIFireE after my name.

 

https://www.ife.org.uk/ife-blog/tackling-fires-in-electric-vehicles-
 

Information from experts, not someone in a youtube video that meets your own agenda.

So you can't dispute anything in the video then? ????

 

No wonder you got banned under your other username. ????

 

Since you claim to be an ex-fireman maybe you will listen to this expert, the FDNY commissioner? Let me guess, you were more senior than that bar stool expert? ????

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/09/tech/lithium-ion-battery-fires/index.html#:~:text=“In all of these fires,and so it's particularly dangerous.”

 

[champers]

23 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

As a recent retired senior fire officer, with just under 40 years experience, and over 1000 fire investigations, it is nice to be lectured by a bar stool expert.

Get used to it. All solutions are at the bottom of a bottle of Leo.

[Georgealbert]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

So you can't dispute anything in the video then? ????

 

No wonder you got banned under your other username. ????

 

Since you claim to be an ex-fireman maybe you will listen to this expert, the FDNY commissioner? Let me guess, you were more senior than that bar stool expert? ????

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/09/tech/lithium-ion-battery-fires/index.html#:~:text=“In all of these fires,and so it's particularly dangerous.”

 

The fires are difficult, not impossible. So are many fires.
 

You cannot look at one picture, which you did above and then state how right you are.

 

Knowledge comes from experience and research, not from finding a youtube view that meets you one sided agenda.

 

This is from the Liverpool link I posted, research a few.

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

The fires are difficult, not impossible. So are many fires.
 

You cannot look at one picture, which you did above and then state how right you are.

 

Knowledge comes from experience and research, not from finding a youtube view that meets you one sided agenda.

 

This is from the Liverpool link I posted, research a few.

 

 

 

We've already established that ICE vehicles can catch fire. That's fairly obvious. 

 

What I am saying is, they are easier to extinguish than EV fires. You could be a firefighter for 4000 years and that fact will not change. I have posted a video to explain why, for people like you who clearly do not understand. So if you think the YouTube video is wrong, then explain why. You can't, you just skirt around the issue with your claimed "Knowledge" and "Experience" without actually stating any facts. Why? Because you don't have any facts that contradict what I am saying. 

[Crossy]

Let's throw in a couple of alternative scenarios for the source.

• How about a stolen Range Rover being torched in the parking?
• Or an actual terrorist attack (OK, it's Luton, maybe not)?

Either would have had the same overall result, with no sprinklers it doesn't matter what fuel the vehicles use.

 

I must admit my ghast being flabbered that UK regs don't require sprinklers in parking.

 

I have no doubt that the real reason this started will become known, eventually.

[retarius]

I guess this will make them less easy and much more expensive to insure. hahahahaha

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Please watch the YouTube video I posted above. You will learn a lot.

 

Lithium fires are incredibly hard to extiniguish.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/09/tech/lithium-ion-battery-fires/index.html#:~:text=“In all of these fires,and so it's particularly dangerous.”

 

I didn’t get my knowledge of the science fires or the science, or of lithium batteries from ‘YouTube’.

 

 

Edited October 12, 2023 by Chomper Higgot

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Sorry but talking to you is like a 1967 Eric Sykes movie.

 

You do not listen to anyone, you do not want to be educated and you think you know more than everyone.

 

Bye, I will not waste my time.

Folded like a cheap suit as soon as facts were requested.

 

Up in smoke, so to speak ????.

[JonnyF]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

I didn’t get my knowledge of the science of science, or of lithium batteries from ‘YouTube’.

 

 

That's great. You can provide the links then when you disprove what's in the video.

 

I'm waiting...

[JonnyF]

10 minutes ago, retarius said:

I guess this will make them less easy and much more expensive to insure. hahahahaha

They already are...

 

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/sep/30/the-quotes-were-5000-or-more-electric-vehicle-owners-face-soaring-insurance-costs

[Georgealbert]

4 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Let's throw in a couple of alternative scenarios for the source.

• How about a stolen Range Rover being torched in the parking?
• Or an actual terrorist attack (OK, it's Luton, maybe not)?

Either would have had the same overall result, with no sprinklers it doesn't matter what fuel the vehicles use.

 

I must admit my ghast being flabbered that UK regs don't require sprinklers in parking.

 

I have no doubt that the real reason this started will become known, eventually.

The car park should have CCTV, which hopefully allow the investigators to establish the facts leading to the fire.

 

UK fire and building regulations are based first on life safety, hence no sprinklers and only minimum 15 minutes fire protection in car parks of this height. It is expected that allows fire service intervention before the fire spreads, which failed this time and a few times before. 
 

Sprinklers, fire pumps, water supplies and their maintenance just adds costs, which developers don’t want.

 

Many years ago, many large UK DIY stores and supermarkets burnt down. These had no sprinklers and often no fire insurance. Sprinklers only were installed after the companies could no longer continue to write off the costs and then they had to get insurance. The insurance companies then required sprinklers to reduce the risk of money losses.

 

Balance between life safety (fire/building regs) and property protection (insurance), cost making the final decision.