release of latest occupancy figures.

Hotel and cottage colonies combined achieved a final occupancy rate of 28 percent for December -- a rise of 3.3 percent on the same month in 1996.

And although statistics have still to be confirmed, bookings for January are well up on the previous two years.

TOO MUCH FIREWOOD LEAD TO BLAZE FIR Too much firewood leads to blaze Bermuda Fire Service Clearwater Station attended a structural fire at a Well Slip Road home in St. George's early on Friday.

Four firefighters in one truck arrived at the home at 7.51 a.m. and found that too much firewood had been put in the fireplace and the fire was out of control.

About an hour later, five firefighters in one truck from the Hamilton Station went to the TB, Cancer and Health Association building on Cedar Avenue, Pembroke where there was a report of smoke. They found that an electrical short had destroyed an AC adapter worth $10.

MODELS TO CONVERGE ON THE ISLAND NJ Models to converge on the Island A group of fashion models and photographers will descend on Bermuda at the end of the month to shoot a catalogue for a prestigious US clothing chain.

And the Brooks Brothers' catalogue will result in Island exposure to more than 2.6 million potential upscale visitors throughout the US.

Tourism director Gary Phillips said: "The catalogue, the culmination of a recent retail promotion with Brooks Brothers, the Bermuda Department of Tourism and the Bermuda Hotel Association, will feature various images of Island properties, beaches and attractions.'' It will also offer a telephone number for consumers to call and receive a vacation planning kit to Bermuda.

The catalogue is set to be mailed to US homes in three instalments starting in late March.

Mr. Phillips added: "Other aspects of the retail promotion occurred between September and October, 1997, and consisted of a special Bermuda window display in Brooks Brothers' flagship stores, a targeted Bermuda informational mailing to Brooks Brothers' credit card holders and distribution of entry forms for consumers to win a trip to the Island.'' BRIDAL FAIR HAILED A GREAT SUCCESS BUC CON Bridal fair hailed a great success Despite grey clouds the fifth annual Bridal Fair in the Clocktower, Dockyard was bigger and better than ever.

Event organiser, Shelley Hamill, estimated that more than 600 people braved the rainy weather conditions recently to enjoy the displays of 35 different vendors.

Soon-to-be brides were given information packages and identification stickers which read "I'm the Bride!'' With family members and reluctant grooms in tow, they enjoyed booths ranging from Italian pasta and dessert samples to live white doves, and from wedding ceremony videos to lingerie clad models.

FIRE GUTS UPPER PEMBROKE APARTMENT FIR Fire guts upper Pembroke apartment Nearly 20 firefighters last night tackled a blaze which gutted the upper apartment of a Pembroke house.

A total of seven fire trucks rushed to the fire at Mount Hill. Firefighters using breathing gear battled to contain the blaze.

GALLERY RECEIVE RECOGNITION IN PAPER ART NJ Gallery receives recognition in paper Bermuda's National Gallery has been given the thumbs-up by Canada's national newspaper The Globe and Mail .

In a recent Worth Travelling For section the paper highlighted the gallery for its current exhibition, The Rebel Princess.

The show features paintings by Princess Louise, Queen Victoria's daughter, who visited the Island in the 1880's.