Car park fire near Gatwick Airport: no Holiday Extras customer vehicles were involved

Reassurance for customers currently abroad following reports of a fire at a car park used by some Gatwick passengers

August 25th 2026: You may have seen news reports about a fire at a car park used by some Gatwick Airport passengers, and we want to reassure any Holiday Extras customer who has seen this news while away that your car is safe. No Holiday Extras customer vehicles were parked at the site affected, and this incident has no connection to any car park booked through Holiday Extras.

On the evening of Saturday 22nd August, a fire broke out at Caldyne Business Park on Wallage Lane in Rowfant, near Crawley in West Sussex, around eight miles from Gatwick Airport. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service described it as a significant and complex fire involving a workshop, a number of vehicles including electric and heavy goods vehicles, and gas cylinders. Around 140 vehicles are reported to have been destroyed or damaged. Some of the vehicles at the site were understood to be there for holiday parking with an operator unrelated to Holiday Extras. Sussex Police confirmed that a 67 year old man was arrested on suspicion of arson and has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected

We know how unsettling it is to see news like this while you are away, especially if you are not immediately sure whether your own car could be involved. We are very sorry for everyone whose vehicle has been damaged or destroyed, and we understand how stressful it must be to deal with this from a distance. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported.

Eight fire engines and two water carriers from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service attended on the night, working through into Monday to bring the fire under control and make the site safe, supported by Sussex Police and UK Power Networks after nearby homes and businesses temporarily lost power. We would like to thank all the emergency services involved for their speed and professionalism in responding to what has clearly been a difficult and complex incident.

What this means if you booked with Holiday Extras

Your car is not affected. Caldyne Business Park in Rowfant is not a site that Holiday Extras uses, and no Holiday Extras customer vehicles were parked there.
You do not need to do anything. Your booking and your car remain exactly as you left them, and you can continue your holiday as planned.
If you would like personal confirmation of where your car is parked, our team can talk you through your booking details. Use our online amends system or get in touch via the options below.

If you booked your airport parking separately, with a different provider, and you are concerned that your car may have been at the Rowfant site, please contact that provider directly for confirmation. Anyone affected has also been advised by West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to contact their operator directly.

If you have an urgent question about a booking today, please contact us via Live Chat:

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