The Fire Brigades Union has accused Hertfordshire Fire Authority of being "woefully prepared" to deal with an oil fire. The Brigade had almost no ability to attack the fire at Buncefield oil depot with foam, the Union said. While praising the fire crews, the Union is backing calls for a public enquiry. County Councillor David Lloyd has executive responsibility for community safety, he says the oil depot is a bad example. "The Community Safety Plan looks at different ways of fire fighting across the county. It's about investing in community safety teams so that huge problems don't happen. Now once every sixty years, you get a fire like we did at Bunsfield, that is a very very different proposition from the normal day to day activity."
Residents allowed home Most of the residents evacuated after the blast on Sunday are expected to be allowed to go home tonight (Tuesday), however Police are asking parents not to allow their children to play in the foam. Residents who have been staying in local hotels are keen to return to their properties to assess the damage and be given the opportunity to change clothing and get their lives back to some form of normality. Local Business Local businesses are also hoping to get back into their properties soon. Tim Hutchins from Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce says he's been humbled by the way people have dealt with the difficulties. "I think they've been remarkably stoical" he said "People are obviously very upset, and understandably so, but they are not blaming anyone in particular, it appears to have been just one of those things" he said. | 
