On December 11, 2005, Hemel Hempstead woke to an explosion so powerful it registered 2.4 on the Richter scale and was heard as far away as Holland. A vapour cloud ignited with the force of 30 tonnes of TNT. The fire burned for five days and the plume of smoke was visible from space.
I was one of the first journalists on the scene that day. I still remember the chaos, the fear, and the sheer scale of what happened. It was the largest explosion in the UK since World War Two and it changed everything.
Twenty years later, I’ve produced and narrated a new documentary for BBC Sounds that revisits that day and its legacy. This project brings together my journalism experience and storytelling skills to condense a massive story into under 30 minutes.
The documentary features voices from residents, emergency responders and experts who investigated the blast. I explore how Buncefield reshaped safety standards and whether those lessons are still being applied today.
It also looks at life near the depot now. Thousands of new homes are being built close to the site as part of Hemel Garden Communities. Some residents trust the safeguards now in place. Others admit they would have thought twice had they known the history. Critics warn that the lessons of Buncefield risk being forgotten.
Alongside the documentary, I wrote two companion articles that showcase how multimedia journalism can reach wider audiences:
🔗 Could the Buncefield disaster happen again?
🔗 Homes still being built near oil depot blast site
Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and helped bring this to life.
Lead photo credit: Sue Ferguson
