VICTORIA — The City of Victoria says fire crews were met with “extremely challenging conditions” as they battled a blaze at the former Travellers Inn building on Queens Ave.

A statement from the city says part of the building collapsed and heavy machinery was used in a “controlled demolition” of the fire-damaged structure.

Victoria Fire Chief Dan Atkinson says the fire spread rapidly and crews took a “defensive posture” after clearing the building.

Atkinson says he was thankful to other agencies that aided the response, including the Saanich, Esquimalt and Oak Bay fire departments, as well as Victoria Police, paramedics and crews from FortisBC and BC Hydro, calling the blaze a “complex incident.”

The city says no firefighters were injured and the building’s occupants have been accounted for, but there have been unconfirmed reports of other people in the building.

The statement from the city says the residents and others from a nearby building were evacuated and are getting help from the city’s emergency support services, and crews are expected to remain at the scene through the night into Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2026.