Tanker driver questioned over oil depot fire

Police have interviewed a tanker driver who fears he may have triggered the blaze at the Buncefield oil depot.

A friend of the driver told ‘The Sun’ newspaper that the driver feared he was responsible for the explosion, which started the massive fire on Sunday morning, because he flicked his engine cut-out switch after detecting a leak of vapour.

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Parr said that the driver had already spoken to police, along with the other people who were at the scene of the explosion, and that everyone would be spoken to again.

The Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. HSE manager Bob Woodward said that it was too early to speculate on what the cause of the fire might have been, but he said that it was clear that it had been caused by a release of fuel.

The main fires at the oil depot in Hemel Hempstead were extinguished yesterday. At its height, the fire – the largest of its kind seen in the UK and Europe during peacetime – involved twenty oil tankers. Forty-three people were injured as a result of the explosions and fire.

Many people were able to return to homes and businesses near the depot afterwards.

However, fire broke out again at the depot last night, in a tank, which had previously not been affected by the blaze. The fire brigade said that the fire was being allowed to burn itself out and was safely contained.

Residents are being advised to keep their doors and windows closed to prevent coming into contact with the smoke. However, medical authorities have reported no significant ill effects from the smoke.

(KMcA)