derelict cottage at Blue Hole Hill -- burned to the ground yesterday morning.

Twenty firefighters aboard five vehicles responded to the blaze that destroyed the porched-in building at the west end of the Causeway.

The Fire Service received a call at 6.45 a.m. that the wooden building, used by vagabonds, was on fire.

While driving to the fire a fire truck collided with a car on Crawl Hill. The driver of the car, a 55-year-old St. George's man, was unhurt while his car's rear bumper and lights were damaged.

The fire truck, also slightly damaged, was able to carry on almost immediately to the fire. Police described the collision as minor.

At Blue Hole Hill, firefighters knocked over the blazing house to avoid it collapsing on them while they battled the fire. A nearby Government bulldozer was used.

The cause of the fire, which took an hour and a half to extinguish, is unknown. A Fire Service spokesman said the cause was recorded as doubtful in origin.

The house, which was in an advanced state of disrepair, had been used by homeless people either as a hangout or as a shelter.

The house, which became Government property in June, had been rendered useless by another fire some years ago.

It was part of a long-sought deal for 2.8 acres of land owned by Mr. Russell Dismont. The land, which cost Government $800,000, is to become part of a 40-acre national park system that includes the 11.8-acre Outerbridge Trust lands next door.

Another morning fire yesterday caused an estimated $10,000 damage to the waterside Pitt's Bay Road office building of Bermuda Fire & Marine Insurance Company.

The fire was located outside the building's basement amidst a pile of debris.

Five trucks and 16 firefighters answered a call at 2.22 a.m.

A spokesman for the company said the building's western verandah walls, tiling and ceiling.

UP IN SMOKE -- Firefighter Mr. Terence Stovell hoses the burning remains of the old house at Blue Hole Hill yesterday as firefighter Mr. Craig Tucker stands by.