ST. THOMAS - Hundreds of St. Thomas visitors had a close encounter with the Virgin Islands Fire Service and several other groups of first responders when a blaze started on the third floor of the Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort about 8:30 p.m.

By 9 p.m., hundreds of guests sat, stood and wandered the grounds in front of the hotel entrance while the red lights of three pumper trucks flashed brightly against the palms and other tropical foliage.

Firefighters arrived within minutes of smoke engulfing an area near a restaurant on the third floor of the hotel, down one level from the lobby area.

Hotel guests said that a fire alarm sounded a warning. Hotel staff and putrid smoke encouraged guests to leave and a crowd was quickly on the grounds outside the hotel.

"I felt the procedure went OK," said Neil White, a guest from England who was in the hotel when the fire started. "We waited outside for about three-quarters of an hour."

Two ambulances were dispatched to the scene and emergency response radio traffic mentioned a possible victim of smoke inhalation.

Officials at Schneider Hospital could not be reached for comment late Monday night.

Fire Chief Glen Francis said the cause of the fire has not been determined. He said he did not think many injuries occurred, although a few people may have been treated for smoke inhalation.

A damage estimate was not available.

Frenchman's Reef general manager Jose Gonzalez said with the fire out and guests back in the hotel by shortly after 10 p.m., the goal was to make them comfortable and relaxed. He said the hotel was booked nearly full on Monday night.

"We're taking care of the customers and employees, that's the most important thing," he said.

While workers inside hurried to clear smoke and water from the hallways near the fire, a spread of snacks, water and drinks was set up for guests who had been evacuated.

Disaster mitigation was set into motion with Fire Service, St. Thomas Rescue, Emergency Medical Technicians and the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency on the scene.

Other government officials also arrived to assess the situation involving so many visitors to the island.

"I think we're very pleased with our first responders," said Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson Doty, who visited the hotel after the fire. "They were here in minutes. When unfortunate things happen, it tests our systems and preparation. This time it certainly worked."