Fire crews descended on Belco in large numbers yesterday morning after a "minor" gas turbine blaze.

Noisy sirens sounded through Hamilton as 13 fire trucks carrying some 30 firefighters were scrambled to the power plant after combustion gas from a turbine engine was released into a hole below the unit.

A Belco spokeswoman said this caused a small fire on the oily film above water in the hole.

She said that staff had already contained the flames with a fire extinguisher when the "precautionary call" was made to Bermuda Fire Service at 9.39 a.m.

She added: "The first fire truck responded to the gas turbine area of the power plant, on the north side of Cemetery Road, within five minutes.

"Minutes after the initial response, 13 apparatus and approximately 30 firefighters were on scene. Firefighters applied foam to the affected area as a barrier, then packed up and left the scene by 11 a.m."

She said that fire officials credited Belco staff for working "quickly and effectively" during the incident.

Gas turbine engine, GT5, was shut down but there was no damage to the unit. Belco also confirmed was there was no disruption to plant operation, and residents' electricity supply was unaffected.

"Belco categorises the incident as minor, but will examine it thoroughly," the spokeswoman added.

Last July the Island was plunged into darkness after what Belco bosses called a "catastrophic failure" in its power transmission system.

A fault in one of Belco's switch gear rooms triggered a massive explosion and towering flames rose from the Serpentine Road power plant for eight hours.