According to the writings of the British press and agencies, in an attempt to overcome the fiery element, the firefighters sprayed 32.000 liters of water per minute in combination with foam, and one oil tank was particularly "sensitive" because it contained fuel for "Avtur" type aircraft, which could to cause a new series of explosions. The police immediately rejected the possibility of a terrorist attack, saying that there was an accident in which 43 people were injured (two were seriously wounded), although there was an alleged terrorist threat. Firefighters described this explosion as environmental tragedy, which is just a milder term for environmental disaster. According to agency news, the thick black smoke that hung over England went to France and Spain, and then stayed high above the clouds. When it snows, will it be black?
The explosion damaged nearby houses with cracked window panes and front doors, but the worst damage was actually suffered by the merchants of the area who were preparing for the Christmas "boom". Some of the biggest retailers based in Hemel Hempstead are now cleaning up shards of glass and picking up losses: fashion industry Asos, DSG International, Xerox, PC World and many more. Many of them have already put the key in the lock and transferred all their employees to other locations. Nick Robertson, director of Asos, says the company has spent around £600.000 building a fashion cloth warehouse, which it moved into four months ago. This clothing industry specializes in making replicas of clothing worn by celebrities, and according to director Robertson, around 350.000 items (dresses a la Kylie or a la Madonna) were destroyed in the fire.
Although life in London is relatively normal two days later, the explosion that was heard at a distance of 160 kilometers caused fears of another series of bombings. In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, many Londoners thought it was linked to terrorists and that it was the beginning of the end: London is burning. Jason and Rachel Backhouse still can't get back into their house, which is now missing its roof - blown off by the explosion. Their house, from which they ran screaming with a seven-month-old baby in their arms, is located in the immediate vicinity of an oil depot in the blues of Hemel Hempstead. The Backhouse couple do not know what is happening to their house and whether the burglars have already done their thing. The Backhouses are now in temporary accommodation, as are 2000 of their fellow citizens. "We are worried. All credit cards, cash, all our possessions are still there. Everyone knows that we are not there, and they can rob us," says lawyer Backhaus.
Due to the size of the fire that engulfed the oil facilities, all available firefighters were engaged - more than 180 people from 15 fire stations with 26 fire extinguishers and 20 vehicles. At first they could not approach the burning tanks because of the heat. "It looks completely destroyed, like the apocalypse." Something you don't see every day," said one of the bosses. John Prescott, the deputy prime minister, spoke of the heroism of the firefighters, but also stressed that this was not a terrorist attack. According to him, although the cause of the tragedy is not yet known, it is assumed that an unfortunate combination of circumstances is involved. Prescott also announced that an official investigation will be conducted.
Boonsfield Depot is a major distribution terminal operated by Total and Texaco, where gasoline and kerosene are stored. This terminal supplies fuel to airports throughout the region, including Heathrow and Luton. This, the fifth largest fuel distribution depot, is also used by BP, Shell and British Pipeline. Total has set up a hotline for those whose property has been damaged and offers emergency help. Also, the Salvation Army is at the service of citizens who have been displaced from their homes, and everyone else who needs that help.
