Car park fire near Lisbon airport destroys over 200 vehicles

A significant fire that broke out near Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport in Portugal has destroyed more than 200 vehicles.

On 16 August 2024, emergency services were alerted to reports of fire at around 6pm. As reported by Crisis24, 72 firefighters were initially mobilised to tackle the blaze. Aviation24.be stated that the number of firefighters rose to 140 at around 9pm, according to the Civil Protection Service. 48 appliances were also at the scene. Crews eventually managed to extinguish the flames just before 11pm.

The Portugal News added that no personal injuries had been reported and the fire did not spread to nearby warehouses.

Sub-regional commander of Greater Lisbon for Civil Protection, Hugo Santos told Lusa News Agency that the fire occurred on the second floor of the car park, understood to be used by a car collection company for passengers.

The car park was covered on floor no. 1 and uncovered on floor no. 2, and only floor no. 2 burned”, he said.

There may eventually be damage to some vehicles that did not burn, but which may be damaged by the heat released by the fire.”

As reported by the Portugal Resident, while initial media reports appear to link the blaze to an electric car catching fire, this has not been confirmed by officials.

The Polícia Judiciária stated that an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, with Santos adding that the judicial police were “already on the ground”.

The Portugal Resident has since reported that insurance claims for vehicles destroyed in the blaze have reached “more than €2.85 million”.

Providing this estimate was the Portuguese Insurance Association (APS), which stated that more than 120 claims had been “received by insurance companies regarding vehicles with fire cover”. The Association added that the figure is “expected to grow substantially as more claims are received and once all the damage covered by insurance has been ascertained”.

As previously reported by the FPA, in October 2023, a major incident was declared after flames engulfed the newly built Terminal 2 car park of London Luton Airport, resulting in “significant structural collapse”. Up to 1,500 vehicles were written off in this incident, with airport officials later adding that the car park would need to be “fully demolished” due to the extent of the structural damage.