Swift work after the oil tank explosion on the Hoo Peninsula prevented an environmental disaster to an internationally important wildlife site.
The emergency services and the Environment Agency worked to stop contaminated water seeping into the Medway Estuary following the blast at the Kingsnorth Industrial Estate on Friday morning.
The Medway Estuary has the highest international designation as a site of wildlife importance, and the area is especially valued for its concentration of wildfowl.
The main environmental risk was from the water used to put out the fire.
That water became contaminated with the oil and contaminated a 300-metre stretch of water course.
The Environment Agency estimated that a further 150,000 litres of oil-contaminated water were contained on site.
The Fire and Rescue and Environment Agency used booms to contain the oil and one of the control sluices on the Medway Estuary was closed as a precaution.
The Environment Agency will work with private contractors to clean up the site and avoid any further pollution.
Paul Bennett, who managed the Environment Agency’s operation said: “This could have been devastating for the local environment.
“By working with our partners in the emergency services, we have managed to limit the environmental damage and the areas that were contaminated should make a swift recovery.
“Our biggest challenge was making sure that the contaminated water didn’t get into the estuary.”
One man was hurt in the blast at an engineering firm. He suffered a suspected broken leg and cuts and bruises.
By late Friday afternoon police had reopened roads around the area and scaled down a cordon.
Fire crews were still on site at the end of the day, but the blaze was safely under control.
More than 100 firefighters were tackling the fire at its height, and police evacuated the industrial estate and set up an exclusion zone.
People living around the scene were advised to stay in and keep their doors and windows for several hours after the fire.
The cause of the explosion has still to be established.
POSTED: 31/03/2007 04:15:00
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