fire fire major caused series explosions december oil storage terminal oil storage facility located near motorway england terminal fifth largest oil products storage depot united_kingdom capacity gallons fuel terminal owned largest explosion occurred utc near tank led explosions eventually overwhelmed large storage tanks emergency services announced major emergency fire fighting effort began cause explosion fuel air explosion unusually high strength latest evidence suggests caused deciduous trees accelerating flame degree pressure wave caused remaining air fuel detonate monitored event measured scale news reports described incident biggest kind peacetime europe certainly biggest explosion united_kingdom disaster flames extinguished afternoon december storage tank ignited evening fire fighters left burn attempting provided advice prevent incidents future primary need safety measures place prevent fuel escaping tanks stored added safety measures needed fuel escape mainly prevent forming stop poisoning environment incident explosion fire largest explosion occurred utc sunday december near container explosions followed eventually overwhelmed large storage tanks accounts cloud explosion unusually high strength known fuel air explosion layer explosions heard miles away reports belgium france netherlands monitored event measured scale reported people south london far west miles southern suburb numerous people felt initial explosion subsequent explosions occurred witnesses miles terminal observed flames hundreds feet high smoke cloud visible space far north lincolnshire miles away damage included broken windows buildings including church blown doors entire wall removed warehouse half mile site buildings neighbouring suffered blast damage window blown miles nearby office blocks hit badly window blown explosion ripped working day offices people deaths resulted reports indicated cars nearby streets caught fire roof house blown buildings vicinity evacuated police smoke possibility explosions danger structural damage making buildings unstable reported injuries people deemed seriously injured kept hospital breathing difficulties life threatening condition early media reports spoke fatalities persons missing members staff terminal accounted police fire services member parliament area said seven fuel tanks site december affected tanks risk exploding fire spread blaze emergency services announced major emergency huge fire fighting effort began peak times effort consisted fire engines support vehicles fire fighters firefighters called immediately incident began blaze morning december putting measures applying large quantity foam incident occurred close junction motorway led closure setting public exclusion area estimated incident largest single seat fire world fought fire brigade foam supplies sites drawn plans place start foam midnight december delayed minute concerns possible pollution local rivers underlying water sources high volume pumps extract litres imp gal water minute litres imp gal second reservoir miles fire high volume pumps deployed locations serve thirty thousand litres imp gal fire fighting foam minute directed fire hours pumping rate reduced half individual fires reported extinguished midday monday december reported tank fires extinguished tanks extinguished earlier ignited threatening cause explosion adjacent tank led motorway closed public exclusion area widened firefighters temporarily withdrawn risk posed threatened tank assessed operations resumed anticipated fires extinguished night damage occurred storage tanks early hours tuesday morning causing firefighters withdrawn operations resumed midday december fires extinguished largest tank burning bronze command operations ground visited local vicar industrial chaplain supporting fire crews firefighters confident remaining fires extinguished day tuesday december smoke considerably reduced grey indicating water combining smoke reported tank fires extinguished smaller fires persisted firefighters involved fighting fire supported brigades entire gold command operation involving agencies emergency services run headquarters garden city distance fire fire broke early morning december firefighters view leave risk petroleum exploding better allow fire contained burn deputy chief stated escaping petroleum likely cause original explosion fire smoke cloud black smoke cloud visible satellite photographs drifted high altitude feet reading seen small particles smoke contained low expected cause long term harm issued warnings smoke atmosphere come rainfall night december fire resulted people requiring medical aid mainly day fire symptoms incident members public majority visiting hospitals rescue services attended check ups symptoms emergency workers suffered respiratory complaints half sore days fire high thermal energy highly settled weather conditions allowed rise great height little cross mixing fire reduced intensity reported possible ground level smoke concentrations rise significantly december reported smoke cloud reached northern france expected arrive northern spain weekend investigate smoke cloud research aircraft operated jointly flights december flight edge followed south coast england carbon nitrogen concentrations found low particles major component cloud second flight went centre obtain data help emergency teams reactions response evacuations hundreds homes area evacuated people find alternative accommodation emergency services asked residents smoke affected areas close windows doors stay inside advised people houses smashed windows seek refuge friends family nearby possible people homes damaged blast placed hotels stayed nearby shopping centre total operator depot set people properties damaged explosion called local authorities provide accommodation help concerns public safety resulted schools libraries public buildings closing december police local authorities advised residents consult direct website date information seventy schools borough closed december limited number schools advice schools mile radius incident site closed concerns surrounding effect smoke children health schools reopened normal december transport disruption incident occurred close junction motorway motorway shut junctions miles shortly incident roads vicinity including short motorway road closed local petrol stations reported long people started panic buying spokesman gave assurances petrol shortage likely result incident oil terminal supplied airport fuel fire airport start fuel long haul flights australia far_east south_africa intermediate stop airport european airports refuel short haul operators asked fuel aircraft round trip flying aircraft allowed fuel normally board fuel shortages continued months explosion business disruption industrial area worst affected buildings headquarters building buildings badly damaged rendered completely demolition building began soon june completely removed site buildings closest blast surrounding north building west buildings south extensively damaged buildings designated demolition required major repairs result destruction equipment building websites hosted inaccessible including labour_party cambridge affected system dealing replaced days manual system number companies affected inability reach premises premises largely unaffected blast criticism expressed local citizens local originally depot constructed away buildings developmental pressures led houses commercial premises built near depot pollution valleys water announced detected persistent toxic fire fighting foam ground water bore hole close site stated water entered public water supply nearby pumping station closed fire precaution chemical known health risk government ban use announcement announced increasing safe level chemical drinking water accused government changing rules suit situation levels drinking water area rise future fuel burned soil impact surrounding land water table limited inquiry government inquiry held jointly started calls public inquiry declined board included lord newton authority fire safety medical expert environment agency staff board aim identify immediate causes explosion consider blame deficiencies prejudice legal proceedings initial progress report february causes explosion summed event immediate reaction emergency services second progress report published april looked environmental impact announcement sequence events caused explosion starting evening december tank north west main depot filled petrol located midnight terminal closed check contents tanks found normal normally monitor level fuel tank fills particular pipeline level gauge tank began indicate level reading despite filled cubic metres hour calculations tank begun overflow evidence suggesting high level switch detected tank shut supply failed operate switch failure triggered alarm appears failed minutes later estimated tonnes petrol tank roof ground inside wall semi enclosed compound surrounding tanks overflow results rapid formation rich fuel air footage showed flowing wall started flowing site near junction rate fuel pumped tank increased dramatically initially fuel pumped cubic metres hour increased cubic metres hour explosion occurred cloud initially metre deep metres spread boundaries site extent damage meant possible determine exact source possibilities include emergency generator depot fire pump system investigators believe caused driver fuel tanker speculated mobile phone felt unlikely explosion widespread effect air quality ground level legal action civil liability total claims filed residents businesses group hoping bring class action march high_court official senior master turner hearing permit class action october including insurance companies small businesses families properties damaged destroyed claiming billion damages court cases resulted explosion main trial determine liable damage commenced high_court october example loss suffered drop turnover explosions resulting losses company located offices industrial estate metres depot initial trial concluded justice issued summary judgment hearing total agreed cause main trial total claimed duty supervisor time responsible explosion refused admit civil criminal liability incident total argued liable damages reasonably cause destruction march high_court found total liable blast saying satisfied total control tank filling operations depot judgement left company facing damage claims million total appealed judgement appeal dismissed hearing march criminal liability site covered regulations jointly enforced competent authority formed carried investigation following fire april companies accused causing explosion faced criminal prosecution brought defendants total pleaded guilty offences remaining engineering ltd found guilty june found guilty failing protect employees found guilty failing prevent major accidents limit effects pleaded guilty causing pollution enter controlled waters underlying vicinity site contrary sentencing took place july total fined plus costs fined costs fined plus costs fined local called modest fines insulting terminal generally known complex fifth largest oil products storage depot capacity imperial gallons fuel oil storage capacity major hub oil pipeline network important fuel source british aviation industry providing aircraft fuel local airports including airports half complex dedicated storage aviation fuel remainder complex stores oil petrol diesel fuel petrol stations south east england terminal owned seat fire worst damaged section west total store variety neighbouring area causes final report written released february investigation found tank oil storage depot filled petrol tank level gauge employees monitor level manually independent high level switch shut level got certain tank manual gauge stuck independent shut switch meaning tank filled blind petrol filled clear indication level eventually tank filled completely petrol overflowed formed cloud near ground level ignited exploded fires explosion lasted days investigation found level gauge stuck random times tank service august concern maintenance contractors site management independent shut switch fitted critical allow check work secondary meant trap petrol retaining wall tank failed allowed petrol flow drains areas prevent release chemicals environment failed fuel foam entered supplies investigation found secondary designed poorly maintained wider management found investigation contributed explosion management safety checks site found properly followed site staff control flow rates timing inlet sources meaning information properly manage storage incoming fuel overall increased reducing wait times shifting emphasis process operations instead process safety aftermath soon incident stripped provide air quality data passed forms remembrance anniversary service held green sunday december spoke calling public inquiry assurances local hospital maintain accident emergency department community continue build good relationships formed blast reconstruction rebuild damaged parts site relevant approval needed section site good way explosion survived little damage exploring plans future use site indicated number priorities including reopening fuel considering section store aviation fuel distribution centre motor fuel reduced level late total submitted plans reconstruction oil depot
Buncefield fire