Vandalite Fire as reported by Halifax Today 18 Dec 2003

More than 80 firefighters from all over West Yorkshire tackled the massive blaze which raged for around eight hours - yards from a petrol station - at Haley Hill works, Boothtown.

The three-storey building, which houses Vandalite Lighting, West Yorkshire Plastics and Prime Powder Coating and Prime Developments, was gutted.

At one point senior divisional fire officer Martin Redfearn, the incident commander, feared that an acetylene cylinder used for welding that was in the mill would explode.

An investigation is under way today to establish the cause of the fire.

Halifax station officer Damian Brown said at the height of the fire there were 20 fire engines, seven support appliances and two hydraulic platforms tackling the blaze.

He said firefighters were unable to go inside the building because of the potential danger.

"The smoke was pulsating out into the fresh air which is a serious indication that there could be a backdraft once there is that much toxic smoke in a building.

"That means the gases and smoke would have ignited. So I made the decision to pull everyone out.

"The conditions were worsening all the time. It was untenable and far too dangerous to send someone in.

"It took a good two hours to bring the fire anywhere near under control due to the amount of flammable materials."

Ian Dunkley, West Yorkshire Fire Service assistant divisional officer said petrol pumps at the neighbouring BP petrol station had been shut off to keep the public away from the blaze.

"The main danger was not the petrol itself, it was the proximity of the customers to the fire."Dave Salt, in charge of production at Vandalite, said he left the building at 8 pm, but just over 30 minutes later a neighbour was knocking on his door to raise the alarm.

Mr Salt, 34, of nearby Woodside Crescent said: "I'm devastated. I'd only left the building a short time before and it's gone up in flames.

"The firefighters couldn't get in the building, so I brought my key down."

Stephen Shaw, one of the directors of Vandalite, makers of vandal-resistant light fittings, said contracts still had to be fulfilled.

"We have to get it up and running again," he said.

Workshop manager Anthony Lisle, 48, of Holme Wood, Bradford, has worked for the company for eight years.

He said: "I didn't know the extent of the damage but now I have seen inside it's gutting. The building has had it.

"At least our wages went in yesterday so we will be all right for Christmas."

The Coach and Horses pub, next to the mill, was evacuated as a safety precaution but firefighters managed to stop the blaze spreading to the building.

Residents, downwind of the thick, pungent smoke, were asked to keep their windows closed.

Firefighters were today damping down as fire investigation teams sifting through the debris to try to establish the cause.