The Buncefield fire occurred on 11 December 2005 and led to some 2,700 claims for compensation . In the words of neighbouring MP Peter Lilley , " There is something providential about the fact that the worst fire in western Europe since the Second World War should occur in a constituency represented by a fireman . It was undoubtedly in the interests of all his constituents and mine to have someone so knowledgeable , as well as so vigorous in their response , to represent their interests . " Penning , who arrived on the scene within half an hour of the explosion , had himself been trained to deal with much smaller petroleum fires ; the scenario was that one tank not twenty was affected
Buncefield fire
Buncefield fire
Mike Penning