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Operations Support Manager Mick Johns gives us an insight into the Buncefield Oil Terminal fire

It was 06:02 hours on Sunday, 11 December 2005 when leaking hydrocarbon vapours ignited at the Buncefield Oil Terminal near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. The initial explosion measured 2.4 on the Richter scale and was heard as far away as the Netherlands. The Buncefield Terminal held around 100,000,000 litres of refined fuel, mostly kerosene, petroleum and gas oil, in 32 tanks. In addition, the site had several pipelines bringing in and removing fuel from the site.

“We have received many letters of congratulations for how well the Emergency Services dealt with this unprecedented incident, but we could not have brought it to such a successful conclusion without the other Services such as Hampshire providing personnel and equipment. On behalf of all personnel from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service who were involved at Buncefield, I would like to formally thank all the personnel from Hampshire who gave assistance during the incident.”

Roy Wilsher Chief Fire Officer,
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

The initial explosion damaged and ignited eight of these tanks, rendering fixed protection installations and the onsite Control Room beyond use, and cutting off access to two of the major onsite emergency water supplies. Off site things were little better. A number of large industrial buildings close by were severely damaged by the blast; one caught fire and took six fire crews to extinguish it, and others were damaged beyond repair. Buildings many miles away suffered damage and the only blessing was that at that time on a Sunday morning most were empty and fortunately injuries were very few.

The fire took four days to extinguish and eventually involved over 20 tanks. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was assisted by 16 other Fire and Rescue Services - including Hampshire. Water supplies were secured using new High Volume Pumping units - similar to the units that will be crewed by Hardley and Hythe personnel. The HVP’s relayed water to the site using 150mm hoses to supply the foam monitors. These pumps were also used to great effect to recycle water onsite for cooling and to pump used water and foam into holding areas to prevent environmental damage that would have caused long lasting effects on drinking water, had it been allowed to escape from the site.

Hampshire sent and maintained crews on site for three days. Foam equipment and personnel were sent from Eastleigh and Rushmoor Stations, in addition to Officers and personnel from Hampshire’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team. Our crews worked extremely well in very difficult conditions and played a significant role in successful foam operations on site. Their knowledge of the foam equipment and its best use with regard to foam, water supplies and projection was evident and endorsed the work HFRS completed a few years ago in developing the three stage foam and equipment strategy. HFRS is now looking at the experience of Buncefield and trying to relate the lessons learned so far into its future Operational Plans for Hampshire’s major industrial risks.