Fire Crews Take On Blaze

Updated:23:06, Sunday December 11, 2005

Hundreds of firefighters are preparing to tackle a raging inferno at a fuel depot ignited by a series of large explosions.

Smoke and flames at the site

Hertfordshire Chief Fire Officer Roy Wilsher said fire crews were ready to mount "a sustained attack" on the fire using supplies of concentrated foam shipped in from round the country.

The blast injured 43 people and has been described as the "largest incident of its kind in peacetime Europe".

The first blast near Hemel Hempstead was so powerful it rocked houses up to 40 miles away and was heard in Holland.

More than 60 billion gallons of fuel erupted in a ball of flames hundreds of feet in the sky, creating an acrid cloud of smoke which is stretching for miles and moving south-eastwards.

A picture sent to Sky News by a viewer

Most of the casualties had only minor injuries from flying glass but one person is seriously hurt and another is under observation in hospital.

People near the smoke are being warned to stay inside and close all windows and doors. Authorities in the region have been handing out breathing masks.

Dr Jane Haplin, of Hertfordshire Health Authority, said experts believed the smoke was largely made up of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which was reassuring.

She said: "If there was going to be a large-scale reaction I would expect that we'd have started to see the signs of it by now and that doesn't seem to be happening."

Breathing masks are needed

The first blast happened at the Buncefield depot, around 25 miles north of London, just after 6am. Two smaller blasts happened about 20 minutes later.

Police have said that although the situation is now under control, they expect more blasts at the site, which stores 16 million litres of petrol, kerosene and diesel.

Police have urged people not to panic-buy petrol. They say contingency plans are in place and there is "nothing to suggest" there will be a supply problem.

All nine refineries in the UK are fully operational, with no problems related to the manufacture of petroleum or their distribution other than at Buncefield, an industry spokesman said.

Map of the area

Houses near the depot have been evacuated and part of the M1 has been closed in both directions.

Police say schools, libraries and day centres will be closed tomorrow and warned motorists to steer clear of the area.

The cause of the explosions is not yet known but no third party - a plane or a terrorist - was involved.

Thousands of viewers have contacted Sky News with reports it shook houses many miles away.

Witnesses said buildings have been brought down and the roofs of houses were lifted by the force.

One witness said he was near the site when the blasts happened and he saw a building "open up like a doll's house".

Sky News Correspondent Geoff Meade heard the blast at his home and broke the news to the nation.

He immediately called Sky Centre in west London, which was also shook by the explosions, and described "burning tongues" of flames in the sky.

:: An emergency hotline has been set up to help anyone concerned about friends or relatives. The number is 0800 096 0095.