Daltons turns to accountants after blaze hits offices

Hampshire commercial firm Daltons has found refuge with its accountants after its offices suffered a major fire last week.The practice in Petersfield reopened for business the day after an electrical fault in a cabinet in the common parts of the grade-two listed building caused the fire.

It was dealt with by 12 fire engines from across the county, partly because of the threat to adjoining buildings.While other tenants of the building have suffered more major losses, managing partner Rebecca Todd said Daltons has only lost one solicitor's office.

The fire took hold at 8am, before anyone was at work.No client files or records were lost, while the firm's computers were backed up off-site.

Telephones were diverted immediately to Daltons' other office in Hayling Island.Some staff are also working from the Hayling Island office, while a couple are working from home.Ms Todd said the firm did not have contingency plans for an event like this, and that there was 'a bit of a major panic at first'.

She said she hoped to reoccupy the office around three weeks after the blaze.Neil Rose