Fire crews hoping to finish blaze
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41115000/jpg/_41115452_fire203afp.jpgBlaze aerial footage
Firefighters tackling the Hertfordshire oil depot inferno have extinguished the fires in all but three of the 20 blazing fuel tanks.
The operation to quell the flames, burning for more than 48 hours at the Buncefield site in Hemel Hempstead, is said to be making good progress.
The final phase of the operation is due to begin with a "sustained foam attack" on the largest tank.
The fire should be out by the end of the day, fire chief Roy Wilsher says.
Firefighters are now nearing the end of phase three of the operation, which involves putting out fires in the smaller tanks before moving on to the final tank.
The final stage of the firefighting
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/uk_enl_1134475030/img/1.jpgFuel tank numbers 12, 901 and 905 are the only ones still ablaze. Fires in another 17 tanks, all in the red zone above, have been put out.
Earlier, Hertfordshire Police's Assistant Chief Constable Robert Beckley said it had been a "challenging night".
But he told BBC News: "It's hard to be definite on this but, speaking with my colleagues in the fire service, one or two of them would stake their salaries that it could potentially be out by lunchtime."
He said the "main risk" should have passed by the end of the day, enabling lives to return to normal.
Smoke and soot
A Met Office spokesman said the wind was switching from south-westerly to northerly, which would push the smoke plume from the fire towards the south.
There are fears soot could cause problems at ground level as the plume falls to earth once the blaze has been put out.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41114000/jpg/_41114944_fire_appliances203_pa.jpgFire appliances at Buncefield fuel depot
At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Assistant Chief Constable Simon Parr of Hertfordshire Police said: "As the blaze is tackled, the smoke plume will start to fall to the ground in slightly greater density."
He said people living nearby should remain inside with doors and windows closed until they could see the smoke had subsided or received further advice.
Assistant Chief Constable Parr said he hoped some residents living nearby could start returning on Tuesday afternoon.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/uk_enl_1134410780/img/1.jpgThese satellite images show how smoke from the Buncefield fuel depot fire spread after the initial explosions at 0600 GMT on 11 December. By lunchtime on 12 December, the smoke had reduced to a tiny plume. (All images courtesy Dundee University, except far left from US NOAA.)
Dr Jane Halpin from the local health authority said there appeared to be no significant increase in people reporting breathing difficulties.
She said it was hoped that about 200 schools closed as a result of the fire would be able to reopen on Wednesday.
Public meeting
The blaze began just after 0600 GMT on Sunday, when the first of a series of explosions hit the site.
Forty-three people have been injured.
Fire crews are using six high-volume pumps, combining foam concentrate with 32,000 litres of water per minute, much of it from a nearby lake.
Measures are being taken to stop pollution of the water table and river, with firefighters at the site trying to keep waste water in contained areas.
One person admitted to Watford General Hospital intensive care with respiratory problems remains in a stable condition.
Residents have been invited to a public meeting at Hemel Hempstead sports centre at 1400 GMT.
This will follow a similar meeting held on Tuesday morning for businesses inside the police cordon which have been directly affected.
FIGHTING THE BLAZE
Six high-pressure pumps
500,000 litres of foam concentrate
30km of hose
180 firefighters
26 fire engines
20 support vehicles
75% of Hertfordshire fire personnel on site at least once
Support from 16 other brigades
At a meeting on Monday evening, some of those evacuated were warned it could be a week after the fire was put out before they were able to return home.
This was because their homes would have to be assessed for potential contamination and structural problems to make sure they were safe.
A police advice line for affected residents and businesses has been set up on 0800 0960095. Oil firm Total, which operates the depot, has also set up a hotline - on 0870 400 0499 - to enable those whose properties have been damaged to log their details.
Police say there is "nothing to suggest" the fire was anything other than an accident.
And a spokesman for Total denied there had been leaks in the run-up to the explosions.
The Buncefield depot is a major distribution terminal operated by Total and part-owned by Texaco, storing oil and petrol as well as kerosene which supplies airports across the region, including Heathrow and Luton.
