Fire fighters were seen filing out of the second floor entrance, covered in soot as they exited a very smokey H.W.P. Group at the St. John's Road, Pembroke location yesterday.

It took 29 fire fighters and six fire trucks to put out a fire, which started in a spray booth in the Paint Room at the popular car dealership.

Division Officer Lloyd Burchall said: "We got the call alerting us of the fire at 3.02 p.m. and arrived on the scene at 3.06 p.m. It took the fire fighters about 15 minutes to extinguish the fire. No employees or customers were hurt in the process."

All of the employees and customers had been safely evacuated from the building and employees managed to remove all of the new cars out of the show room.

Tony Martin, vice president of auto sales who is acting CEO to president and CEO. Johnathan Brewin, who is currently off Island, said: "It is too early to say what caused the fire until the fire department is able to do a complete full assessment of the damage. There has been some structural damage, fire damage and a lot of smoke damage to the second floor but it is still to early to tell."

There were six new firefighter recruits on the scene. After the experienced fire fighters extinguished the fire, the newly instated were sent off to open the ground level windows and further assess the area. Senior fire fighters supported them.

Investigations to the cause of the fire are currently underway.