A fire broke out this morning at the former Plaza Hotel building in Pembroke

The blaze was reported to the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service at about 7.20am.

Eight officers with two trucks attended the property beside the Leopards Club.

A BFRS spokesman said: “The fire was contained to one room on the mid-level of the building, which was clear of people when firefighters arrived at the scene. It was largely contained within half an hour.”

The cause of the fire was unknown and firefighters were still at the scene at 9.45am.

The three-storey building on Cedar Avenue is owned by Leopards Club International (Bermuda) and has been vacant since being gutted by a fire in 2007.

Club president Calvin Smith said at the scene: “I found out about the fire at 7.30am through social media.

“I came here a short time later as I live five minutes away. By that time the fire service was already tackling the fire.”

He thanked members of the public who called 911.

In 2024, the Government announced plans to build 13 affordable housing units at the complex.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, then the Minister of Public Works, said at the time: “Even though 17 years has passed since the fire, the building remains structurally sound and can be renovated.

“By repurposing this unused structure, we are not only preserving an important piece of Hamilton’s heritage, but also creating much needed homes for Bermuda.”

However, plans for the $4.8 million development, which was expected to take 22 months, were put on hold in December to allow for a full redesign and to find a more economic building model.