Two residents of the Radisson Blu in St Julian’s not bothered by events at their hotel. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

A large fire broke out in a semi-basement used to store outside catering equipment and fuel at the Radisson Blu resort in St Julian’s yesterday.

The incident happened at around 1.30pm when hotel staff noticed thick black smoke emerging from an underground car park adjacent to this store.

Though the blaze was located below the hotel entrance and not directly under the rooms, all residents were immediately ordered to assemble near the lido on the other side of the resort as a precaution. Incidentally, just a few hours earlier, hotel staff had carried out a routing fire drill to check that all safety equipment was functioning.

Members from the civil protection department were called on site and the fire was extinguished by 4pm, using several bowsers of water, as well as foam.

Island Hotels Group managing director Winston Zahra was also onsite closely following the operation.

At the same time hotel staff were stationed at the hotel entrance to assure those residents totally oblivious to what was going on that the situation was under control.