Fire units responded to a 7:09 a.m. call for a fire at Amy’s Place in downtown Honolulu today. The blaze was under control by 7:25 a.m. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Eight fire units responded to the 7:09 a.m. call for the fire at Amy's Place, at the corner of Smith and Hotel streets.

HFD Battalion Chief Clinton Wong said one of the bar employees was setting things up for the day and flipped on a switch for the lights over the bar area.

"He went in the back to get something and when he came back, he saw smoke and flames coming out," Wong said.

When firefighters arrived a few minutes after the first alarm, they found thick smoke and flames inside the bar, Wong said.

He said four fire units were called initially as is standard procedure for the downtown area, and that four more units were called after the first fire units confirmed there was a fire, which also is standard procedure. The additional four units were released almost immediately after the extent of the fire was determined. The fire was reported under control at 7:25 a.m.

Mateo Arceo, owner of the RCO Store next to the bar, watched anxiously from a Smith Street sidewalk as firefighters put out the fire.

Arceo said he was in his store at 7:15 a.m. preparing it for its regular 8 a.m. opening when he smelled smoke.

"I went outside and the police were already here and the fire engines were coming," Arceo said.

Bar owner Amy Breslin arrived just as firefighters were wrapping things up.

She has owned the bar, at 49 North Hotel St., since 1996. The bar usually opens at 8 a.m. "with lotta people showing up already," Breslin said.

The extent and dollar amount of damage caused by the

fire were not immediately available.

The fire was contained to the ground floor of the two-story building.