Poison cloud heads for London!

Lanesra · 12-12-2005, 05:39 PM

I'll say goodbye now - just in case

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, England – Fears that one tank could contain highly volatile fuel forced firefighters to temporarily halt their battle Monday against a blaze raging at an oil depot that has spewed smoke as far away as France and caused jitters on the global oil market.

Authorities said they believe the explosion Sunday at the Buncefield depot north of London was an accident, but will examine other possible causes, including terrorism.

The 150 firefighters fighting the blaze with torrents of chemical foam withdrew at 3 p.m. after extinguishing flames in 12 of the 20 tanks that were initially ablaze, said Chief Fire Officer Roy Wilsher.

The terminal stores 4.2 million gallons of fuel, and the fire has caused unease on the oil market and raised questions about safety at the nation's oil facilities.

"There is nothing to suggest that it is anything other than an accident, but we're keeping an open mind and when we get into the site we'll treat it as a ... scene which could be a crime. We'll be doing full forensics," said Chief Superintendent Jeremy Alford of Hertfordshire police. "We'd be remiss if we didn't."

Firefighters battled the enormous fire for more than 30 hours before pulling back Monday. Authorities shut a highway nearby and extended a closed-off zone around the depot 25 miles north of London because of the chance the tank might explode, Wilsher said.

He said flames had reignited in one tank where they had been extinguished earlier, and its proximity to another tank whose contents were unknown had prompted fears of another explosion.

"I don't want a human tragedy to go alongside the environmental tragedy that we've already got," he told reporters. "We intend to go back on the offensive as soon as possible."

Wilsher told reporters the firefighters were in "uncharted territory."

"This is the largest fire of this kind that the U.K. and Europe have dealt with," he said.

Police said the ferocity of the blaze would make it extremely difficult for forensic experts to determine its exact cause, but there was no indication of foul play. Chief Constable Frank Whiteley said eyewitness accounts and closed-circuit television footage would be key to the investigation.

The series of explosions came four days after an al-Qaeda videotape on the Internet called for attacks on facilities carrying oil, but officials drew no link.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott told Parliament there would be a full investigation once the fire was extinguished.

"Does this latest incident prove that proper safety procedures were still not in place?" Conservative Party lawmaker Caroline Spelman demanded.

Gemma Shepherdson, a spokeswoman for Total U.K., which operates Buncefield, said security was tight and anyone entering the site had to go through a security gate and show a photo pass.

She said the depot was ringed by closed-circuit TV cameras.

Heavy plumes of black smoke continued to billow Monday from the depot, the fifth-largest in Britain.

Most of the 43 people injured in the blast before dawn Sunday were treated for cuts and bruises from flying glass. Two men with more serious injuries remained in hospitals Sunday night, and one was released Monday, police said.

The smoke cloud has drifted over Brittany and Normandy in northwestern France and was headed toward Spain, France's national weather service said Monday.

"Poison cloud hits London tonight," warned the Evening Standard newspaper.

Environment officials said toxins from the fire had not contaminated drinking water near Hemel Hempstead.

Most of the 2,000 people evacuated from their homes Sunday were still waiting to return.

Evacuee David Smith, 65, taking shelter in a recreation center, said he wasn't concerned about living so close to the depot.

"These places have got to go somewhere," he said. "It's a very small island; we need these oil depots."

Jane Hogg, mayor of Dacorum Borough Council, said authorities were trying to get people back in their homes as soon as possible, but needed to be sure the buildings were structurally sound.

The oil terminal explosions raised supply concerns, but authorities said the blasts would not lead to a shortage.

Oil prices surged above $60 Monday as forecasts of colder weather in the world's largest heating oil market, the U.S. northeast, boosted expectations of a rise in demand, and OPEC agreed to maintain its present output.

Representatives of oil companies, pipeline operators and the airline industry met Monday to discuss ways of keeping fuel supplies flowing. French oil firm Total S.A. said it had implemented contingency plans to reroute supplies that normally run through the plant.

"There shouldn't be any problem with supplies," said Lesley Else, a spokeswoman for Total U.K.

The Buncefield plant, which is part-owned by Texaco, carries jet fuel to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. It also stores gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

Lanesra · 12-12-2005, 05:40 PM

I've just looked outside - it's pitch black now, I can't see the sun at all.

johnny · 12-12-2005, 05:50 PM

Sheesh, when i heard about this yesterday, i didn't think it was THAT bad. And the man on TV also said he was certain it was an accident.

Lanesra · 12-12-2005, 06:43 PM

It's real bad, my eyesight is becoming blurred, my gait is unsteady and my speech slurred! I feel the need to sleep now!

shamrock_uk · 12-12-2005, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnny:
Sheesh, when i heard about this yesterday, i didn't think it was THAT bad.

Some piccies.

Lanesra · 12-13-2005, 06:15 AM

Whoa! What a night, apparently it was so dark because it was midnight and the other problems were caused because I had drunk so much alcohol!

Looks like we dodged the bullet again.

Melcheor · 12-13-2005, 09:07 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/h...ast/html/1.stm
- Satellite image is a bit out if date, but number 3 is worth lookng at. Reminds me of a few disaster films.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl...0780/img/1.jpg
- More up to date satellite images.

johnny · 12-13-2005, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lanesra:
Whoa! What a night, apparently it was so dark because it was midnight and the other problems were caused because I had drunk so much alcohol!

Looks like we dodged the bullet again.

You bastard.

Somehow i knew i shouldn't be responding.

RoSs_bg2_rox · 12-13-2005, 11:31 AM

Haha Johnny! *points to time of Lanersa's post.* Dumbass. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Mack_Attack · 12-13-2005, 12:51 PM

Well I work in the pipeline buisness. And one comment that I would never believe is them not knowing the contents of a tank. I ship oil in the states threw pipelines and we now the content of every tank on the pipeline or in the tank farms.

But Carbon fuel fires of any kinda in a refinery is not good. I am not to sure what else they do there as far as process. But it is not un-common to have tanks that have hydrogen in them. You would not want fire near that.

Iam not to sure about over seas. But here in Canada and the States there is a shortage of Diesel fuels.

Holds your breath and I hope things get better soon. [img]smile.gif[/img]

12-12-2005, 05:50 PM	#3
johnny 40th Level Warrior Join Date: April 15, 2002 Location: Utrecht The Netherlands Age: 58 Posts: 16,981	Sheesh, when i heard about this yesterday, i didn't think it was THAT bad. And the man on TV also said he was certain it was an accident. __________________

12-13-2005, 11:31 AM	#9
RoSs_bg2_rox Zartan Join Date: May 20, 2003 Location: Near Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 34 Posts: 5,225	Haha Johnny! points to time of Lanersa's post. Dumbass. [img]tongue.gif[/img] __________________ [img]\"http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/ladyzekke/dragonwater2.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

12-13-2005, 12:51 PM	#10
Mack_Attack Osiris - Egyptian God of the Underworld Join Date: May 22, 2001 Location: Sherwoodpark,Alberta,Canada Age: 51 Posts: 2,929	Well I work in the pipeline buisness. And one comment that I would never believe is them not knowing the contents of a tank. I ship oil in the states threw pipelines and we now the content of every tank on the pipeline or in the tank farms. But Carbon fuel fires of any kinda in a refinery is not good. I am not to sure what else they do there as far as process. But it is not un-common to have tanks that have hydrogen in them. You would not want fire near that. Iam not to sure about over seas. But here in Canada and the States there is a shortage of Diesel fuels. Holds your breath and I hope things get better soon. [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________

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12-12-2005, 05:39 PM	#1
Lanesra Symbol of Cyric Join Date: March 29, 2001 Location: Twititania, Europe Age: 63 Posts: 1,221	I'll say goodbye now - just in case HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, England – Fears that one tank could contain highly volatile fuel forced firefighters to temporarily halt their battle Monday against a blaze raging at an oil depot that has spewed smoke as far away as France and caused jitters on the global oil market. Authorities said they believe the explosion Sunday at the Buncefield depot north of London was an accident, but will examine other possible causes, including terrorism. The 150 firefighters fighting the blaze with torrents of chemical foam withdrew at 3 p.m. after extinguishing flames in 12 of the 20 tanks that were initially ablaze, said Chief Fire Officer Roy Wilsher. The terminal stores 4.2 million gallons of fuel, and the fire has caused unease on the oil market and raised questions about safety at the nation's oil facilities. "There is nothing to suggest that it is anything other than an accident, but we're keeping an open mind and when we get into the site we'll treat it as a ... scene which could be a crime. We'll be doing full forensics," said Chief Superintendent Jeremy Alford of Hertfordshire police. "We'd be remiss if we didn't." Firefighters battled the enormous fire for more than 30 hours before pulling back Monday. Authorities shut a highway nearby and extended a closed-off zone around the depot 25 miles north of London because of the chance the tank might explode, Wilsher said. He said flames had reignited in one tank where they had been extinguished earlier, and its proximity to another tank whose contents were unknown had prompted fears of another explosion. "I don't want a human tragedy to go alongside the environmental tragedy that we've already got," he told reporters. "We intend to go back on the offensive as soon as possible." Wilsher told reporters the firefighters were in "uncharted territory." "This is the largest fire of this kind that the U.K. and Europe have dealt with," he said. Police said the ferocity of the blaze would make it extremely difficult for forensic experts to determine its exact cause, but there was no indication of foul play. Chief Constable Frank Whiteley said eyewitness accounts and closed-circuit television footage would be key to the investigation. The series of explosions came four days after an al-Qaeda videotape on the Internet called for attacks on facilities carrying oil, but officials drew no link. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott told Parliament there would be a full investigation once the fire was extinguished. "Does this latest incident prove that proper safety procedures were still not in place?" Conservative Party lawmaker Caroline Spelman demanded. Gemma Shepherdson, a spokeswoman for Total U.K., which operates Buncefield, said security was tight and anyone entering the site had to go through a security gate and show a photo pass. She said the depot was ringed by closed-circuit TV cameras. Heavy plumes of black smoke continued to billow Monday from the depot, the fifth-largest in Britain. Most of the 43 people injured in the blast before dawn Sunday were treated for cuts and bruises from flying glass. Two men with more serious injuries remained in hospitals Sunday night, and one was released Monday, police said. The smoke cloud has drifted over Brittany and Normandy in northwestern France and was headed toward Spain, France's national weather service said Monday. "Poison cloud hits London tonight," warned the Evening Standard newspaper. Environment officials said toxins from the fire had not contaminated drinking water near Hemel Hempstead. Most of the 2,000 people evacuated from their homes Sunday were still waiting to return. Evacuee David Smith, 65, taking shelter in a recreation center, said he wasn't concerned about living so close to the depot. "These places have got to go somewhere," he said. "It's a very small island; we need these oil depots." Jane Hogg, mayor of Dacorum Borough Council, said authorities were trying to get people back in their homes as soon as possible, but needed to be sure the buildings were structurally sound. The oil terminal explosions raised supply concerns, but authorities said the blasts would not lead to a shortage. Oil prices surged above $60 Monday as forecasts of colder weather in the world's largest heating oil market, the U.S. northeast, boosted expectations of a rise in demand, and OPEC agreed to maintain its present output. Representatives of oil companies, pipeline operators and the airline industry met Monday to discuss ways of keeping fuel supplies flowing. French oil firm Total S.A. said it had implemented contingency plans to reroute supplies that normally run through the plant. "There shouldn't be any problem with supplies," said Lesley Else, a spokeswoman for Total U.K. The Buncefield plant, which is part-owned by Texaco, carries jet fuel to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. It also stores gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

12-12-2005, 05:40 PM	#2
Lanesra Symbol of Cyric Join Date: March 29, 2001 Location: Twititania, Europe Age: 63 Posts: 1,221	I've just looked outside - it's pitch black now, I can't see the sun at all.

12-12-2005, 06:43 PM	#4
Lanesra Symbol of Cyric Join Date: March 29, 2001 Location: Twititania, Europe Age: 63 Posts: 1,221	It's real bad, my eyesight is becoming blurred, my gait is unsteady and my speech slurred! I feel the need to sleep now!

12-13-2005, 06:15 AM	#6
Lanesra Symbol of Cyric Join Date: March 29, 2001 Location: Twititania, Europe Age: 63 Posts: 1,221	Whoa! What a night, apparently it was so dark because it was midnight and the other problems were caused because I had drunk so much alcohol! Looks like we dodged the bullet again.

12-13-2005, 09:07 AM	#7
Melcheor Manshoon Join Date: August 17, 2005 Location: North Yorkshire, Merry old England Age: 37 Posts: 227	http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/h...ast/html/1.stm - Satellite image is a bit out if date, but number 3 is worth lookng at. Reminds me of a few disaster films. http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl...0780/img/1.jpg - More up to date satellite images.

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