1
Buncefield: Three years and four months on (1)
Three years and four months after the Buncefield Oil Depot explosion of 11 December 2005 and there is still evidence on the ground of the events of that day. Apart from the odd loose roof panel rattling in the wind this deserted distribution warehouse building stands in mute testimony to the power and force of the explosion. This side faced the oil depot and although the main structural stanchions appear undamaged the minor ones are severely distorted. The building cladding which was presumably present on this side and ripped off in the explosion has long since been removed.
The current satellite imagery available on the "Where's the Path?" website shows that this site was actually part of the oil depot and until shortly before the explosion there were oil storage tanks in this location. The distribution warehouse had only very recently been completed when the disaster struck.
The Wikipedia page describing the explosion and its aftermath is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunccefield_depot_explosion
Image: © Nigel Cox
Taken: 12 Apr 2009
0.11 miles
2
Entrance to Cherry Tree Farm
The house is visible from Punchbowl Lane located amongst a grove of pine trees.
Image: © Jack Hill
Taken: 20 Aug 2005
0.16 miles
3
Emergency Water supply point
This is located close to the oil filling terminal.
Note the capacity of 1,000,000 litres.
Image: © Jack Hill
Taken: 20 Aug 2005
0.16 miles
4
Buncefield: Emergency fire water pond (2)
This is a close-up view of the pond in
Image
Image: © Nigel Cox
Taken: 12 Apr 2009
0.18 miles
5
Buncefield: Emergency fire water pond (1)
Buncefield Oil Depot has several of these ponds scattered around the site. This one is on Buncefield Lane. Just how effective these ponds were in helping to deal with the disastrous explosion of 11 December 2005 is not known by an ordinary layman. Just over the boundary to the right is the site of the original Buncefield farm from which the oil depot got its name.
Image: © Nigel Cox
Taken: 12 Apr 2009
0.19 miles
6
Buncefield Lane, Cupid Green
Running along the side of the oil depot which burnt down in 2006. Despite the rural appearance the depot is behind the railings on the right and an industrial estate behind the trees on the left.
Image: © David Howard
Taken: 5 Sep 2013
0.22 miles
7
Road sign Cherry Tree Lane.
I was amused by the degree of obscurity given by foliage to the road signs. Does anybody really care??
Image: © Jack Hill
Taken: 20 Aug 2005
0.24 miles
8
Oil Storage and filling point
This photo complements the one on the EWS next door.
Image: © Jack Hill
Taken: 20 Aug 2005
0.24 miles
9
Buncefield Oil Storage Depot
Rusting oil tanks, thirteen months after the fire.
Image: © Rob Emms
Taken: 28 Jan 2007
0.24 miles
10
Hemel Hempstead: Buncefield Oil Storage Depot
Sixteen months after the explosion and fire the work of removing the debris goes on. The standing tank is No. 909 and to the left are the piled up rusting remains of one of the other tanks. What is remarkable is that the tree, despite being so close to the inferno, has survived and fresh greenery is beginning to appear. This photo was taken through the fence on Buncefield Lane which was closed to public access for about a year after the event.
Image: © Nigel Cox
Taken: 19 Apr 2007
0.24 miles