BB FANS

5:19pm today

ANOTHER tank at the Buncefield oil depot near Hemel Hempstead ignited late this afternoon, putting neighbouring tanks at risk.

It has not yet been confirmed what the tank contains, but it is thought to be a highly volatile fuel.

Ten of the 20 burning tanks were extinguished by 2pm, but the additional blaze has posed further problems to firefighters battling the flames.

Chief Fire Officer Roy Wilsher said: "We have withdrawn our firefighters because the last thing we want is human tragedy.

"We are holding back at the moment but still spraying the tank with cooling jets. We intend to go back on the offensive as soon as possible.

Full story in the Watford Observer

Seems they are worried about imminent explosions again

EveningEcho
12/12/2005 - 22:59:11

Fire crews resumed their battle at the scene of the blaze at the Buncefield oil depot tonight after fears of a fresh explosion receded.

The teams in Hemel Hempstead started work again after confirming that a volatile tank contained aviation fuel.

A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire Police said: “Fire crews received aerial imagery of the site which indicated where it was safe to resume operations.

“This work is likely to continue overnight.”

Hurrah! for humour on the BBC messageboard...bit different to "I heard a loud bang"

And hurrah! to Fred Dibnah and Photoshop

Was loud enough here to wake up a few people tho not me must be said

Hilary Osborne
Tuesday December 13, 2005, 13:17hrs

Homeowners whose properties were damaged in Sunday's explosions at the Buncefield fuel depot have been reassured they will be eligible for a payout from their insurance companies.

More than 2,000 homes were evacuated after the blast and people living near the depot at Hemel Hempstead said that doors and windows had been blown out.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said damage caused to houses by explosions or any subsequent fires would be covered by standard household insurance policies, while damage caused to vehicles would be covered by third party, fire and theft policies as well as those offering fully comprehensive cover.

An ABI spokeswoman, Lucy Butler, said policyholders would not have to wait until the cause of the accident had been established to make a claim, and that they should get in touch with their insurer in the first instance.

Full story Guardian

From the BBC

Link to lots more Pics

flicr

A few people here were woken with it but I'm wasn't one of them. It's been a long time since I was woken up with any sort of bang.

Flights from Heathrow to Australia are having to make unscheduled stops at Stansted Airport to take on more fuel.

Qantas aircraft are refuelling at the Essex terminal because of rationing at Heathrow after the fire at Buncefield oil depot in Hemel Hempstead.

The depot is said to supply a third of the fuel for Heathrow. Some aircraft are only being allowed 40% of the fuel they would normally take on board.

Tony Astle of airport company BAA said restrictions could last some weeks.

Fuel restrictions

Qantas said it was adding about an hour and a half to journey times to the Far East and Australia to allow for the refuelling.

Mr Astle said: "Clearly the loss of one third of our fuel supply is having an impact on us but with the co-operation of all the airlines, Heathrow continues to operate normally.

"I think there will be fuel restrictions at Heathrow for possibly some weeks to come.

"Fuel demand at Heathrow is now approximately the same as the fuel that is being supplied into the airport, so the operations are unlikely to see any serious delays and the situation is improving hour by hour and day by day."

Story from:
BBC NEWS
Published: 2005/12/16 08:48:42 GMT

SkyNews
Updated: 12:36, Friday December 16, 2005

Looters have struck at homes abandoned after the Buncefield oil depot explosion.

Burglars have descended on at least three houses and stripped them of contents, such as televisions.

Ironically, police ordered householders out of the homes after Sunday's explosion.
They told them their homes would be safe in a police cordon.
But shocked residents returned home to find their houses ruined - and their possessions gone.

Household Aaron Muir told Sky News he was looted three times in three days.
"We have been continually looted for the last three evenings," he said. "We have not been allowed to get access to our property to protect our property.
"The police have been unable to protect my property."

Police say they are investigating the claims.

"We can confirm that the constabulary is currently investigating three allegations of burglary at residential properties in Cherry Trees Lane and Punch Bowl Lane, Hemel Hempstead," a Hertfordshire police statement said.

"We can further confirm that the properties are located close to the Buncefield Oil Depot and within a very short distance from one of the last tanks that continues to be tackled by firefighters.

"It is extremely regrettable that this incident has occurred at what is a very difficult and distressing time for local residents - that offenders should take advantage of this situation is utterly despicable and callous."
It added: "Hertfordshire Constabulary is doing all that is logistically possible to maintain the security of premises that currently remain vacant following Sunday's explosion."

The cause of the massive blaze which destroyed the depot is still being investigated.

The main fire was put out on Tuesday but small blazes are still burning.
Most local residents who were evacuated from their homes were allowed to return on Wednesday.:

A man has been charged with burglary at a house damaged in the Buncefield oil depot explosion and fire.

The occupants had been removed to safety as the structure was judged too dangerous for them to stay.

Warren Patten, of Hemel Hempstead, has been charged with burglary at a home in Cherry Tree Lane in the town between 13 and 14 December 2005, police said.

The home owners left the property, which was inside a police cordon, after the fire started on 11 December.

When the family returned they found a DVD player and satellite television receiver box were missing.

Mr Patten was bailed to appear at St Albans Magistrates Court on 6 January 2006.

Story from :
BBC NEWS
Published: 2005/12/23 18:11:08 GMT

Experts conducting a probe into explosions last month at Buncefield oil depot have been told by the government to publish "as soon as possible".

It has been described as the "most wide-ranging" of its kind since the Potters Bar rail crash inquiry in 2002.

A series of blasts destroyed the depot in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire leading to the evacuation of homes and major damage to nearby buildings.

Lord Newton of Braintree is chairing the inquiry at the depot.

He is joined by Prof Dougal Drysdale, an authority in fire safety and Dr Peter Baxter, a medical expert.

Full story BBC

ThisisLondon
29 January 2006

Scores of people who lost their jobs or were forced out of their homes after the huge Buncefield oil blaze have launched a group action for compensation.

About 60 people have already joined the lawsuit against the operators of the oil depot and another 100 are expected to sign up shortly, according to solicitors handling the claim.

A series of blasts on December 11 destroyed the terminal near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, severely damaging offices and causing houses to be evacuated.

More than six weeks on some people have still not returned home and the depot's main operating company Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd (HOSL) - a joint venture of oil giants Total and Texaco - has made no offer of compensation.

Watford-based law firm Collins Solicitors, which is representing the claimants, lodged an application for a group litigation order against HOSL with the High Court on Friday.

Des Collins, senior partner with the firm, said: "It is simply not good enough that almost two months after this multi-million dollar industry blew apart not only the residents' houses but also their lives, no offer of compensation whatsoever has been put forward.

"It is something which cannot and will not be allowed to continue."

This month the Government pledged that an investigation into the explosions, described as the most wide-ranging of its type since the 2002 Potters Bar derailment inquiry, would be published "as soon as possible".

Gerda Goldinger, a solicitor with Collins, said it was too early to predict the level of compensation those affected would seek.

She added: "Some people have neither homes nor jobs any more as a result of this disaster."

Sky News
Updated: 10:04, Tuesday February 21, 2006

So much damage has been caused by the Buncefield oil depot explosion that investigators still do not know what caused the blast.

Chairman of the inquiry Lord Newton of Braintree said a thorough forensic examination of the site has been held up because the area is still not safe.

The inquiry, ordered by the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency, is looking into the reasons for the December 11 explosion and to work out guidelines for similar sites across the UK.

But locals have accused the investigation of being conducted behind closed doors and want a full public inquiry.

Local MP Mike Penning said the HSE was "investigating themselves".

Part of their concerns are the wisdom of siting such a major fire risk so near to residential areas and the effect on jobs in an area decimated by the fire which raged for nearly a week.

In his report, Taf Powell, the lead investigator at the Buncefield site, near Hemel Hemstead, said he could not say "with sufficient confidence" exactly how the blast happened.

Although the damage caused to the site has hampered efforts to find a definite conclusion as to what happened, Mr Powell's report adds: "The visible mist seen in the CCTV records and described by witnesses is assumed to arise from the evaporation of the more volatile fractions of an escape of fuel.''

He added: "There appear to have been several explosions but the exact sequence of events has not yet been established."