News - 15th December 2005

Business as usual for Intercard following Buncefield blast

We are glad to report we are back in production following the blaze at the Buncefield oil depot.

Oil companies Total and Texaco jointly own the depot (the UK’s fifth largest) that is just a quarter of a mile from our Hemel Hempstead premises.

Reportedly the biggest blaze experienced in peacetime Europe, the initial explosion occurred just before dawn on Sunday 11th December 2005 and was apparently heard as far away as Norfolk and France, over 100 miles away.

We are incredibly fortunate to have been largely unaffected, save for two days downtime.

Forty-three people were treated in hospital as a result of the blasts and the fire but only two were seriously injured. "We have managed not to have any casualties amongst our fire crew. And the fact that there were no deaths and very few casualties is remarkable" said the Chief Fire Officer.

Police say they believe the fire was caused by an accident, but a full investigation will now get under way.

Officials say fears the clouds of smoke could cause major health or environmental damage have so far proved unfounded.

Although unable to gain access to our premises until Wednesday 14th we discovered upon entry that only moderate damage had been caused to ceiling tiles and panels at the rear of the building. Compared to the scene of carnage not 150 metres from our premises we have indeed been lucky.

Fire-fighters now have the fire under control and are allowing it to burn itself out to prevent the risk of further explosion.

Fire crews have worked day and night to quench the three-day inferno that sent a pall of black smoke high into the sky, casting a long shadow across a swathe of southern England.

The blaze was extinguished on Tuesday after 180 fire-fighters pumped more than 15 million litres of water and a quarter of a million litres of foam concentrate onto the flames

However, a further fire on Wednesday, caused by petroleum from one storage tank burning under controlled conditions, occurred to prevent the build up of potentially explosive petrol fumes.

Many houses, offices, factories and warehouses suffered damage, with windows blown out from the force of a number of explosions at the start of the depot blaze on Sunday morning. Further inspection has revealed the need for numerous premises to be demolished on safety grounds.

Schools within a 10mile (17 km) radius of the depot had been closed on Monday and Tuesday and some 2,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes.

Police advised people living near the depot to stay inside and keep their doors and windows closed while smoke continued to belch from the fire.

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

For further information, contact us via our on-line contact form.