When a massive fire ripped through an airport parking structure in the UK on the night of October 10, some immediately and without evidence threw around accusations that an EV was the source of ignition. While EVs have spontaneously combusted, the fact is internal combustion engine vehicles have done the same for a variety of reasons. After an investigation was conduced into the inferno, authorities determined a diesel-powered Range Rover was in fact to blame.
Fireworks explode in a Camaro, killing a woman. See the aftermath here.
Color us not shocked at all. Range Rovers and their Land Rover brethren are ticking time bombs, problems on wheels, and we can see an owner who’s dealt with a constant stream savings-draining repairs putting off yet another. Or it’s possible the problem that sparked the fire went undetected, layered under the many other problems in the bucket of bolts.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue says over 100 firefighters ended up tackling the blaze. Despite their best efforts, the heat caused the collapse of part of the parking structure, although nearby structures didn’t catch fire, which was a real concern. When all was said and done, about 1,500 vehicles were damaged in the fire.
While surveillance footage has pinpointed the vehicle that was the source of the blaze, investigators are still trying to determine how the Range Rover sparked the blaze in the first place. After all, anything from faulty wiring to leaking fluids can start a car fire, and we imagine the SUV is quite thoroughly cooked now, destroying most if not all evidence of the point of ignition. Still, we hope fire officials are able to put the puzzle together.
Your best bet at preventing a fire is to keep your vehicle well-maintained and don’t buy something you can’t truly afford to repair.
Images via Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
