swept through St. Mary's University in Nova Scotia last week.

The blaze caused damage estimated at $200,000 and forced the students to move out into a nearby hotel.

Two Bermudians, Miss Carmen Trott, 18, and Miss Sharon Bean, 26, said yesterday was the first time they had been able to attend classes since the fire broke out last Monday.

Both had been living on the ground floor of the four storey D block of the Vanier women's residence.

Miss Bean, who is in her final year of a Commerce and Human Resources Management degree, is now living at the Lord Nelson Hotel along with Miss Trott and several other students.

When contacted last night she told The Royal Gazette that she had been in class when the fire broke out last Monday around 4.30 p.m.

And she said it was fortunate nobody had been injured as the fire exits had been blocked.

"We had been told earlier that there was going to be some construction work,'' said Miss Bean. "But when we got back in January they had not started. When they did begin work the fumes from the glue they were using caused some of the girls to get nosebleeds, headaches and vomiting.

"We had a meeting to voice our complaints with the administration one week before the fire started, because the construction workers had blocked the fire exits with their equipment. We could not get out if there was a fire.

"However, nothing was done until the fire broke out. Luckily there were no injuries.'' Student Union vice president Lorraine Ferguson said the fire started on the second floor after a spark from a workman's welding torch set alight a piece of tarpaulin canvas.

"The second floor lounge and TV room was destroyed and the fire quickly spread to the third and fourth floors of the Vanier Residence,'' she said.

"All the students were evacuated and put up in the Lord Nelson Hotel.'' Miss Bean called her mother in Bermuda, thinking that she had lost all her belongings. But she eventually managed to recover most of her things from the apartment.

Describing her room after the blaze Miss Bean said: "There was a lot of water and smoke damage. I lost some clothes but there were three international students who lost everything. I managed to save a good bit such as my passports and tickets.'' She said her studies had been affected and she was unable to go to class last week because she was moving her belongings from the university to the hotel.

"It was very hectic,'' she said, "I'm glad I have friends I can lean on.'' Mr. Chuck Bridges, director of public affairs at the university, said the fire had caused about $200,000 worth of damage to the residence.

"The Vanier Residence houses 216 students,'' he said. "After the fire 106 of them were moved to the Lord Nelson Hotel overnight. Most of them have been returned to the residence though the 60 people living in D Block will be unable to return until renovations are completed.

"I expect that they will be back in about three weeks.'' Mr. Bridges said that the university would give those living in D Block a full refund ($1200) on their second semester residence fees and they would be allowed to live in the Vanier residence for free once the renovations were complete.

The university had also arranged for security at the hotel and a shuttle service to take students to and from classes and the dining hall, he said.