A 67-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and released on bail after a major fire destroyed around 140 vehicles at a car park used by Gatwick Airport passengers.

The blaze broke out just after 9pm on Saturday at the Caldyne business park near Crawley, about eight miles from the airport. Images from the scene showed rows of vehicles alight and thick plumes of smoke rising close to overhead power lines.

Emergency services described tackling the blaze as a "significant and complex" operation. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service deployed eight fire engines alongside water carriers to bring the flames under control.

The proximity to high-voltage infrastructure created immediate complications on the ground. UK Power Networks, which manages electricity distribution across south-east England, had to isolate an overhead cable to allow firefighters to work safely beneath it.

That decision led to widespread disruption across the surrounding area, cutting power to more than 2,000 local homes and businesses while emergency teams worked into the night. Sussex Police confirmed that nearby roads were also shut as a precaution.

For holidaymakers returning to the UK, the consequences are severe. A spokesperson for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "Approximately 140 vehicles were damaged, and a number of the vehicles involved in this fire were parked at a site used for holiday parking. Any affected consumers are advised to contact their operator directly."

The damage was not confined to passenger vehicles. The blaze also swept through neighbouring units, causing significant destruction to two breakdown and recovery firms, Autocovery and K&L Automotive. According to local reports, both businesses have previously supported local emergency services by donating abandoned vehicles to West Sussex fire stations for training exercises.

A banger racing outfit based at the site was also caught in the destruction. The Bears banger racing team confirmed via an online fundraiser that they had lost everything in the fire.

London Gatwick has moved quickly to clarify that the car park has no formal connection to the airport itself. A Gatwick spokesperson said: "We are aware of a fire at an unaffiliated third-party car parking site, which occurred on Saturday evening, and understand how concerning and distressing this will be for any passengers whose vehicles may have been affected."

The airport's spokesperson added: "We are advising any passengers who are concerned that their vehicle might have been affected to contact their parking operator directly. The parking company is not endorsed or operated by London Gatwick."

What we do not know yet is how the fire was started or the exact timeline leading up to the arrest. Sussex Police have bailed the 67-year-old suspect while their inquiries continue, and officers are appealing for anyone with information or footage to report it online or call 101, quoting serial number 1504.

If you have a vehicle parked with an off-site provider near Crawley, make sure you contact the booking firm directly rather than the airport terminal. I'll be following this one closely as the police investigation progresses — check back for updates.