Vandalite Fire as reported by Halifax Today 19 Dec 2003

Director of Vandalite Lighting Co, Stephen Shaw, has said he will battle on to bring his company back to life after the devastating fire on Wednesday night.

The firm's Haley Hill works at Boothtown, Halifax, went up in flames at 8.30 pm less than half an hour after it was locked up for the night.

More than 80 firefighters from across West Yorkshire tackled the massive blaze and finally managed to bring it under control about eight hours later.

The three-storey building, owned by Vandalite, also houses West Yorkshire Plastics, Prime Powder Coating and Prime Developments.

The company which makes vandal resistant f light fittings, security lighting and public amenity lighting, with a contract to supply the country's prisons, was created eight years ago and has been at Haley Hill for the past few years.

Mr Shaw said his main priority was finding new premises for the business, which employs 23 people.

"Basically it has got to be up and running in January. We've got about two weeks in January to get it sorted."

He said nothing could be salvaged from the wrecked building.

The company had several large contracts underway and several people are already working at the company's former premises, which it still owns, at Clough Lane, Mixenden, Halifax.

Mr Shaw said it could be used as a temporary solution until new premises were found.

Vandalite staff were scheduled to finish work on Christmas Eve and Mr Shaw said he hoped work would resume as soon as possible in January.

James Casey, paint shop manager at Vandalite said it was a great place to work.

"The fire is such a shame. It's come just as the company was starting to grow in the vandal proof and securty & Amenity lighting market..

"I came down on the night and saw smoke coming out of the window where I work. It was unbelievable to see the paint shop oven smashed through the floor below," said the 31-year-old of Queen's Road, Halifax.

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated.

19 December 2003