A tank truck may have ignited the massive explosion and blaze that injured 43 people and destroyed the Buncefield storage terminal in Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom, according to news reports. The fire started before dawn December 11 with a series of explosions, sending up thick black smoke that traveled as far as France. The last storage tank fires were extinguished December 13.
The Buncefield depot is the fifth-largest fuel supply terminal in the United Kingdom with 4.2 million gallons capacity for refined fuels. The terminal is operated by Total SA and part-owned by Texaco. It is a main supply point for jet fuel going to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Other refined fuels include gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.