Three 5 Star flightcases miraculously survived a fire outside the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Surrey … In a testament to their true robustness and rugged build qualities.

The incident happened during a week long visit by the touring production of “Annie Get Your Gun”. The flight cases belonged to the tour’s lighting suppliers, White Light, and were temporarily being stored outside the theatre’s dock doors.

Two youths – who have since been apprehended after being caught on CCTV – set alight the theatre’s large butane heater, which was also outside at the time. The flames quickly spread and engulfed the flight cases before the alarm was raised and the situation brought under control by the Fire Brigade.

By the time the fire was extinguished, the three flight cases were badly burned, but their contents – including cables, top hats and other accessories, were left undamaged.

Rachel Gale, White Light’s project manager for the tour says, “As always, 5 Star’s cases did an excellent job of protecting the equipment inside!”

The fire is a first for 5 Star as far as they are aware says Works Director Keith Sykes, who comments, “Unless specifically requested by the customer, flight cases in general are not fire retardant, but even this shows the durability that a 5 Star ‘Tour Grade’ case offers. It’s refreshing to know that valuable contents can survive extreme circumstances”.