WATCH: Acting Victoria fire chief Allan Griffin explains what firefighters found after reports of smoke coming from a vacant downtown building on Fort Street Wednesday morning.
Victoria fire crews discovered a homeless man trying to stay warm in a vacant downtown building is what prompted a response to a report of smoke coming out of the structure.
Two trucks were sent to 840 Fort Street when someone passing by saw light smoke coming from the entrance.
Firefighters found the blaze started when a homeless person was trying to stay warm in the basement.
“No damage at all to the building, just a minor little campfire that just got away from him and started to climb up some plastics he had hanging there,” acting battalion chief Allan Griffin said.
The incident at around 9:30 a.m. caused the closure of Fort Street for about half an hour.
Andy Neal
