..... and I was blaming my neighbours central heating flue..

[Guest guest]

A fire is continuing to blaze at a fuel depot in Hertfordshire after a

series of large explosions sent black smoke drifting across south-east

England.

 

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has visited the scene of the

blasts which injured 43 people, two seriously.

 

A fire chief described the incident at the Buncefield fuel depot near

Hemel Hempstead, after 0600 GMT, as possibly the largest in peacetime

Europe.

 

The fire, which police believe was an accident, could burn for another

day.

 

About 2,000 people living near the site have been evacuated, while

police have advised others to keep their windows and doors closed

because of fumes.

 

By nightfall a police cordon remained around the site.

 

Thick clouds of smoke are continuing to spread to the south-east and

south-west of the site.

 

One person is in Watford General Hospital in intensive care with

respiratory problems. Another person is in Hemel Hempstead Hospital

being kept under observation.

 

The other 41 people were treated for minor injuries and discharged.

 

Witnesses said another two explosions followed the first at 0626 GMT

and 0627 GMT at the site near junction 8 of the M1.

 

In total, 20 petrol tanks were involved, each said to hold three

million gallons of fuel.

 

A police investigation into the incident has begun, including

investigations by anti-terrorist police.

 

But Chief Con Whiteley said there was " nothing to suggest anything

other than an accident " .

 

On his visit to the site Mr Prescott praised the response and offered

government help but was told the emergency services were able to cope.

 

Hertfordshire's Chief Fire Officer Roy Wilsher said: " This is possibly

the largest incident of its kind in peacetime Europe. "

 

Fire chiefs are consulting oil industry experts about using millions

of litres of foam to quell the blaze.

 

But Mr Wilsher said they needed to know they had enough foam before

they began.

 

Meanwhile samples of smoke are being taken to determine the long term

effects of exposure, if any, according to Dr Jane Halpin, director of

Hertfordshire Public Health.

 

She said: " However, what I would restate is that those people who are

most at risk are those people who have inhaled the smoke. "

 

Tanker driver Paul Turner said he ran for his life after the explosion

lifted him off his feet.

 

" I just saw this great big ball of fire come up from behind the

building. It was about 50 metres wide, " he told the BBC.

 

" Then there was the loudest explosion I have ever heard in my life. I

got up, turned around and ran to my car and sped out of there as fast

as I could. "

 

Many houses have been damaged, with some reporting feeling effects

from the explosion as far away as Oxfordshire - while it was heard in

a number of counties and even France and the Netherlands.

 

Eye witnesses reported buckled front doors, cracked walls and

blown-out windows.

 

Of the 2,000 people evacuated 290 people have gone to a leisure centre

while 50 others have been offered bed and breakfast accommodation.

 

The M1 is closed both ways between junctions 6a and 12 and may remain

shut on Monday.

 

Schools in and around Hemel Hempstead are likely to be closed on

Monday, said police.

 

Motorists have been told not to go " anywhere near the M1 from the M25

upwards " .

 

At Heathrow airport some flights were forced to delay landing because

of smoke, but Luton airport was operating as usual.

 

The Buncefield depot is a major distribution terminal operated by

Total and part-owned by Texaco, storing oil, petrol as well as

kerosene which supplies airports across the region, including Heathrow

and Luton.

 

The country's fifth largest fuel distribution depot, it is also used

by BP, Shell and British Pipeline.

 

Police said there was no indication the explosion would cause fuel

shortages and warned against panic-buying.

 

A spokesman for Total said: " We are doing everything we can to support

the emergency services and to bring the situation under control. "

 

A spokesman for the Department for Trade and Industry said it was too

early to say what the effect would be on fuel supply but oil companies

were getting oil from other parts of the south east and across the UK.

 

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said it would be

investigating the incident.

[Guest guest]

> A fire chief described the incident at the Buncefield fuel depot near

> Hemel Hempstead, after 0600 GMT, as possibly the largest in peacetime

> Europe.

 

Well, apart from that fireworks factory that went up in Denmark a couple of

years ago... I seem to remember that burnt for about 5 days. It was one of

the biggest fireworks factories in the world, and took half the town with it

when it exploded... but I guess, being England, we don't count anything

outside the UK as being important!

 

BB

Peter

[Guest guest]

That's probably true.

 

Did the smoke come your way? It came straight across London down this way -

luckily quite high.

 

Jo

 

-

" Peter " <metalscarab

 

Sunday, December 11, 2005 9:15 PM

Re: ..... and I was blaming my neighbours central

heating flue..

 

 

> > A fire chief described the incident at the Buncefield fuel depot near

> > Hemel Hempstead, after 0600 GMT, as possibly the largest in peacetime

> > Europe.

>

> Well, apart from that fireworks factory that went up in Denmark a couple

of

> years ago... I seem to remember that burnt for about 5 days. It was one of

> the biggest fireworks factories in the world, and took half the town with

it

> when it exploded... but I guess, being England, we don't count anything

> outside the UK as being important!

>

> BB

> Peter

>

>

>

>

> To send an email to -

>

[Guest guest]

We still have plenty here as I live less than a mile from the depot, yay :/

 

Alex

 

On 11/12/05, jo <jo.heartwork wrote:

> That's probably true.

>

> Did the smoke come your way? It came straight across London down this way

> -

> luckily quite high.

>

> Jo

[Guest guest]

Hope it isnt toxic in its fumes or fallout. Sorry didnt mean to depress you further, keep those windows closed. THe Valley Vegan...........Alex Iantaffi <alex.iantaffi wrote: We still have plenty here as I live less than a mile from the depot, yay :/AlexOn 11/12/05, jo wrote:> That's probably true.>> Did the smoke come your way? It came straight across London down this way> -> luckily quite high.>> Jo

[Guest guest]

Hi Alex

 

We were worried about you when we first heard.

 

BB

Jo

-

" Alex Iantaffi " <alex.iantaffi

 

Monday, December 12, 2005 7:26 PM

Re: ..... and I was blaming my neighbours central

heating flue..

 

 

> We still have plenty here as I live less than a mile from the depot, yay

:/

>

> Alex

>

> On 11/12/05, jo <jo.heartwork wrote:

> > That's probably true.

> >

> > Did the smoke come your way? It came straight across London down this

way

> > -

> > luckily quite high.

> >

> > Jo

>

>

>

> To send an email to -

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jo,

 

Thank you. it was scary but we are all ok, thankfuly and, finally,

back home (we got out half an hour after the second lot of

explosions!). It all seems to be ok here too, no windows or doors

blown although some houses in the next street weren't as lucky

 

BB

Alex

 

On 12/12/05, jo <jo.heartwork wrote:

> Hi Alex

>

> We were worried about you when we first heard.

>

> BB

> Jo

>

[Guest guest]

No rain yet, which is very good and at least the fire is now out! I

haven't open the windows at all since the incident and probably still

won't for a few more days.

 

BB

AlexOn 12/12/05, peter hurd <swpgh01 wrote:

Hope it isnt toxic in its fumes or fallout. Sorry didnt mean to depress you further, keep those windows closed. THe Valley Vegan...........

[Guest guest]

Leave them closed until it rains a bit, I hope there is not too much polution. The Valley Vegan.............Alex Iantaffi <alex.iantaffi wrote: No rain yet, which is very good and at least the fire is now out! I haven't open the windows at all since the incident and probably still won't for a few more days.BBAlex On 12/12/05, peter hurd <swpgh01 wrote: Hope it isnt toxic in its fumes or fallout. Sorry didnt mean to depress you further, keep those windows closed. THe Valley

Vegan........... Peter H

 

Play Santa's Celebrity Xmas Party, an exclusive game from

[Guest guest]

good idea. I hope so to...On 13/12/05, peter hurd <swpgh01 wrote:

Leave them closed until it rains a bit, I hope there is not too much polution. The Valley Vegan.............