West Sussex industrial estate fire: Second man arrested after suspected arson leaves hundreds of cars damaged and businesses in ruins
Police officers investigating a suspected arson attack, at an industrial estate in West Sussex, have made a second arrest.
Police and fire service colleagues ‘responded to a large fire’ at Caldyne Business Park, Rowfant, just after 9pm on Saturday (August 22).
The latest update on the investigation, from Sussex Police, read: “A 67-year-old man was arrested on August 22, and a 29-year-old man was arrested on August 24, on suspicion of arson. They have since been bailed, pending further enquiries.”
Power was shut off to the immediate area, ‘affecting a number of businesses and homes’, and nearby roads were closed ‘as a precaution’, police said.
They added: “A number of cars were damaged at a site used for holiday parking. Any affected consumers are advised to contact their operator directly.”
Drone photos show the aftermath of the major fire, with multiple cars burned out.
Meanwhile, a fundraiser launched following the fire has raised more than £8,400 towards a £9,000 target, at the time of writing.
The GoFundMe appeal was launched by Ashley Riley, who said members of The Bears Banger Team and their families ‘lost everything’ in the blaze.
Riley said those affected had lost their livelihoods, with tools, a truck and other equipment destroyed in the fire.
In the appeal, Riley wrote: “Last night my team members and family lost everything in a fire. Their business, their tools, their truck.
“They have lost their livelihoods and the amount of money to replace everything is unmeasurable. They all have families to support and will now struggle to get life back on track and to rebuild their business from scratch.”
Riley said the fire had also destroyed equipment associated with their banger racing activities.
“In terms of their racing they have lost everything that the banger racing community treasure,” Riley wrote.
“But more importantly they have lost their ability to earn money and live.”
Riley is now appealing for donations to help those affected get back on their feet: “Please if you can donate any amount to help it would be much appreciated.”
A family appeal, on social media, was shared by Megan Maynard, whose brother and his best friend ran K&L Automotive – a breakdown and recovery business based at the site.
She said everything they had worked so hard to build was destroyed ‘in just one night’.
Megan said the fire had caused ‘millions of pounds worth of damage’ and destroyed the livelihoods of many people.
She wrote: “As a family, we are heartbroken and still trying to come to terms with the shock, pain and overwhelming loss of seeing the boys’ entire livelihood destroyed overnight.
“We are determined to do everything we possibly can to help them rebuild, but we cannot do it alone.”
Whilst the emergency response was ongoing, UK Power Networks needed to isolate an overhead power cable as firefighters continued dealing with the incident.
More than 2,000 homes were left without power overnight, although it was restored by 9am.
No casualties were reported.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed, on Tuesday morning, that one crew was at the scene ‘carrying out a final reinspection’.
Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to report it to the police. You can do this online, or by calling 101, quoting serial 1504 of 22/08.