Half of oil depot fires extinguished - fire service
More than 100 firefighters were battling today to control a huge inferno that erupted following a series of blasts at an oil depot.
They had already managed to extinguish 10 of the 20 fires that were blazing at the Buncefield oil terminal near Hemel Hempstead, in Hertfordshire.
Chief fire officer Roy Wilsher announced today that an attack on the flames had begun, using foam and 32,000 litres of water per minute.
The 150 officers were trying to cover the blaze with a massive foam blanket to try to deny the fire oxygen and cool the oil.
A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire fire and rescue service said: “Ten of the 20 fires have been put out.
“We are making good progress. The next hour is going to be critical. The high pressure foam has worked successfully so far.
“We were beginning work on the smaller tanks and moving on to the larger fires. And we are now into a second phase of the operation.”
Mr Wilsher said firefighters were facing “very harsh” conditions today, with wind causing swirling smoke to hamper their efforts.
He said the “apocalyptic” fire was “uncharted territory” and the largest fire of its kind seen in the UK and Europe in peacetime.
The blaze erupted yesterday morning with a series of blasts and firefighters were able only today to begin their attempts to bring it under control, more than 24 hours after it began.
