LONDON (Reuters) - A large explosion was reported north of London by witnesses ringing into British media early on Sunday.
One, identified only as Heather, said she had hear a loud blast near the commuter town of Hemel Hempstead and could see sheets of flame soaring into the sky.
"There is a fuel depot nearby," she told BBC Television. "There are lots of houses damaged."
Police were not immediately available for comment but another eye witness also said he thought there had been an explosion at the fuel depot although Luton airport is relatively nearby.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-12-11T063632Z_01_FOR123780_RTRUKOC_0_UK-BRITAIN-EXPLOSION.xml
What exactly do they mean by "fuel depot"? Is this a British term for a gas station, a propane storage/distribution station, or is this one of the places with the very large storage cylinders, like a Unocal oil storage field?