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Hertfordshire oil depot blows up ! discussed at Musclechat.co.uk the community for powerlifters, bodybuilders, strongmen and athletes. Hertfordshire oil depot blows up ! - Anything goes in here! (All abusive, offensive and posts deemed inappropriate will be removed)
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12-12-2005, 11:45 AM
| #1 (permalink) |
 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 3,230 Rep Power:  |  Hertfordshire oil depot blows up ! Fire crews move to quell inferno Depot consumed by flames Flames reaching into the sky were seen from miles away Firefighters are mounting a massive operation to smother the ferocious fire still raging at a Hertfordshire oil depot after more than 24 hours. The fire, at the Buncefield depot, near Hemel Hempstead, follows a series of blasts which began early on Sunday injuring 42 people, two seriously. Crews plan to cover the flames by creating a giant "foam blanket". A huge plume of choking smoke continues to billow from the site, spreading out across southern England Pollution fears The smothering operation could not begin until firefighters had gathered sufficient supplies of foam concentrate from around the country. It had been due to start at midnight but was further delayed by fears about water pollution. Hertfordshire fire chief Roy Wilsher said crews had started squirting foam at the fire from two attack points. They are using 32,000 litres of water per minute, much of which is being pumped from a nearby lake. A temporary road has had to be built to enable crews to take equipment, including six high volume pumps and a crane, to the water supply. Depot fire still rages In pictures Crews have been working through the night to contain the blaze, maintaining a curtain of water between the flames and seven unexploded fuel tanks, each thought to hold three million gallons of fuel. Mr Wilsher said 20 or more fuel tanks had been destroyed. Specialist oil industry fire fighters are working alongside Mr Wilsher's crews in conditions which he described as "very harsh". He said conditions were worse than they had been on Sunday, with wind sending smoke swirling around the site. He said he could not predict how long it would take to tackle the blaze, saying: "We are in uncharted territory. "This is the largest fire of this kind that we in the UK and Europe have dealt with. We are not even sure how the thermal currents will affect the foam; it may just vaporise it." Colin Chiverton, for the Environment Agency, said experts would try to prevent contaminated water seeping into the ground and threatening wildlife or water supplies. Schools closed Some 2,000 people had to leave the area, after the blast damaged many homes and offices, shattering windows and blowing off doors. A number of evacuees have now been able to return. Other residents have been advised to keep their windows and doors shut. Oil firm Total, which operates the depot, has set up a helpline - on 0870 400 0499 - for those whose properties have been damaged. It also said it was in contact with local authorities and the Salvation Army to see what assistance could be provided to those in the surrounding community. The M10 remains closed and police are warning the M1, which reopened on Sunday evening, may have to be closed again if the smoke plume starts to settle on the road. Images of smoke and blasts In pictures About 70 schools in the Hemel Hempstead and St Albans areas are closed. The effects of the explosion were reportedly felt in Oxfordshire and it was heard as far away as the Netherlands. Massive smoke clouds have started drifting towards Swindon and Reading, in Berkshire. Samples of smoke are being taken to determine the long-term effects of exposure, if any. People with chest complaints are most at risk, along with those who breathed in large quantities of smoke. Massive explosion One person admitted to Watford General Hospital in intensive care with respiratory problems has been stabilised. Another person in Hemel Hempstead Hospital was reported to be under observation. An inquiry into the cause of the inferno by the Health and Safety Executive cannot take place until the site has been made safe. Smoke billowing from scene Smoke from the fire chokes the sky Police officers - including anti-terrorist detectives - are investigating but say there is "nothing to suggest" it was anything other than an accident. And a spokesman for Total denied there had been leaks in the run-up to the explosions. 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 part-owned by Texaco used to store, oil, petrol and kerosene. It also used by BP, Shell and British Pipeline. |
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12-12-2005, 12:29 PM
| #3 (permalink) |
 Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 721 Rep Power:   | just to give you an idea of how big the explosion was, my house is about 25-30miles away maybe further, at just afer 6am the house shook for a few seconds, the windows rattled an you could actually hear the roar of the explosion, scary shit. |
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12-12-2005, 01:24 PM
| #4 (permalink) | |
| Making Progress Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: south west LDN!!! Posts: 278 Rep Power: | Quote:
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12-12-2005, 07:55 PM
| #6 (permalink) | |
| Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 3,230 Rep Power: | Quote:
like 100 years ago eh Nick ______________________ - Obsession is what lazy people call dedication - | |
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