"bitter disappointment'' yesterday that he was not informed of a fire that erupted at the Prison Farm Saturday night.

"I am bitterly disappointed I was not informed,'' he said when contacted at his home yesterday afternoon. "I will be making some phone calls right away.'' He later said he expected to see a written report on his desk by noon today explaining exactly what happened and why he was not informed.

"I expect no surprises in this Ministry,'' he said.

The fire which erupted just before 9 p.m. at the Ferry Reach facility, brought traffic on Kindley Field Road to a virtual standstill as dozens of motorists pulled over to watch billowing clouds of smoke blanketing the entire area.

One witness said the smoke could be smelt at the Airport.

But a supervisor at the facility who refused to be named, attempted to downplay the extent of the fire, claiming no damage had been done.

He also claimed no investigation was pending although Police and Fire departments both confirmed they were in the course of carrying out an investigation into the causes of the fire. Arson has not been ruled out although Police say it is not believed to be maliciously done.

Yesterday, Mr. Soares said the fire had caused extensive damage to a cottage used as a board room and located a couple of hundred yards from the main block where the low-security inmates are housed. But Mr. Soares said that "at no time'' was there a possibility of inmates escaping. The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

A Fire Department spokesman said four fire trucks and 12 personnel rushed to the scene after receiving a call at 8.45 p.m. He said he could not comment on the extent of the damage to the building.

A Police spokesman said it was believed the fire started in a small kitchen area.