ROSE HALL, St James — Up to late yesterday afternoon, members of the St James Fire Department were yet to determine what sparked a fire which destroyed a maintenance building at the Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay All-Inclusive on Friday night.

The guests were not affected as the structure was not connected to the section of the premises where they were accommodated.

However, a female security guard who reportedly complained of respiratory challenges was transported to a medical institution for treatment.

Five motor vehicles which were parked in the parking lot were damaged from the intense heat.

According to head of the St James Fire Department, Deputy Superintendent Rudolph Seaton, a call was received at about 8:25 pm that a fire was raging at the parking lot of the hotel.

He revealed that upon their arrival, firefighters started to battle a blaze which engulfed a workshop in the hotel’s parking lot.

“Upon arrival firefighters observed an area in the parking lot, said to have housed the maintenance department, and a woodwork shop, completely engulfed in flames. Also, three containers, two of which contained bedding and other furniture, were also affected,” Deputy Superintendent Seaton said.

He added: “There was a stockpile of floor tiles also in the parking lot that subsequently caught fire as a result of the combustible material around them, because they were still in the cardboard (boxes).”

An ambulance, three units — one from the Ironshore fire station and two from Freeport — responded to the call. A total of 23 personnel battled the blaze.

After about two and a half hours, the firefighters managed to put out the blaze and carried out cooling down operation.

The fire department is also now seeking to quantify the loss from the damage.

Seven years ago, a small fire broke out at the maintenance section of the facility.

— Horace Hines