MODEL RELEASED. Environmental monitoring after oil fire. Scientist conducting an environmental air sampling following the fuel fire at the Buncefield oil depot in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK. The Buncefield fuel fire, one of the largest fuel fires ever in Europe, started following an explosion on 11 December 2005. The fire burnt for two days and resulted in a hot smoke plume that drifted to an altitude of 3000 metres and covered much of South East England. Air, soil and water pollution levels are regularly monitored at and around the site. This is a Fire Service Scientific Advisor, who is using a Draeger CDS (Civil Defense Simultest) kit, which can detect a wide range of pollutant gases.