Firm's office 'gutted' in blaze

A Worthing-based firm had premises 'gutted' after a tramp's belongings were set on fire outside its office.

Two of Carpenter Box's tax offices were badly damaged after trolleys containing gas canisters outside the building were set alight, which could cost as much as £40,000 to repair. A local bag lady used the trolleys to look after her belongings.

Practice director Chris Coopey told Accountancy Age that despite the severity of the blaze, it had little adverse effect on their services to clients as the firm had moved to a paperless model three months earlier.

'We've been scanning docs for the past year. [The fire] has had a very, very small effect on clients. Our IT data is also backed up,' said Coopey.

'We had a business continuity plan, we felt that was very important.'

500 tax files were smoke and water damaged in the blaze, but they are already being dried and deodorised and will be back in the office next week.

Five staff have been relocated until repairs are complete.

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