Toxic Cloud Rises Over London as Fuel Fire Rages

A fire at a fuel depot in Hertfordshire caused a series of explosions that sent a cloud of toxic smoke into the air over London, raising concerns about public health. Officials said the fire at the Buncefield fuel depot, a 100-acre facility and the fifth largest storage facility in the U.K., is the worst industrial fire in Europe since 1945.

No one was killed in the explosion, but 43 people were treated for minor injuries and 2,000 were evacuated from their homes. The explosions, which continued throughout the day as the fire set off additional fuel storage tanks, were heard by people more than 100 miles away. The blasts shattered windows, dented doors and damaged roofs on nearby houses.

If the fire had started on a weekday, officials say, hundreds of people would have been working at the facility and in nearby businesses and the death toll would have been staggering.


Firefighters struggled to control the blaze. Although they lacked sufficient stocks of foam for such a large blaze, they began dousing the fire with massive amounts of water, even pumping water from the Grand Union canal, which is two miles away from the site.

The smoke raised environmental and health concerns. Elderly people in the area, and those with respiratory conditions, were advised to stay indoors. Meanwhile, Britain’s Environment Agency was checking for pollution to groundwater, rivers and streams and health agencies were monitoring air quality.

Questions have been raised about possible causes ranging from negligence to terrorism, but the cause of the fire has not been determined. It is unlikely that any ruling can be made until the fire is out and investigators can examine the site more closely—and that may not happen for awhile. Fire officials predicted the fire may continue to burn for a week.

Media Coverage:
Toxic Cloud Chokes South -- London Times
Toxic Cloud Fear as Oil Blaze Rages -- The Guardian