Residents have been allowed to return to the building after a balcony fire was extinguished in the 900 block of Yates Street.
Fire and police were on scene and the road was closed for a time, and have since reopened.
Tim Loewen, a battalion chief with Victoria Fire tells CHEK News the fire started on the balcony of one suite then moved inside.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Loewen says when crews arrived on scene, most residents had evacuated the building, but some were sheltering in place.
“We appreciate the tenants when the alarms go off exiting the building, it’s just very difficult to access through stairwells and stuff when we’re fighting against the tenants coming down as well,” Loewen said.
Tenants are now allowed back inside and no injuries have been reported.
Simona De Palma lives on the ninth floor and says she first heard the fire alarm, then people yelling that there was a fire and to get out.
“When I open the window there was a very harsh smell of smoke and also in the stairs,” De Palma said.
Police have closed the nearby street while firefighters respond to the fire.
Laura Brougham
