A ninth-floor apartment fire in View Towers forced relocation of two residents and caused an estimated $100,000 damage Saturday morning.

With no sprinkler system in the 18-storey building, all 19 on-duty Victoria firefighters rushed to the scene at 1147 Quadra St. They brought three engines, two ladder trucks, a rescue vehicle and a command car. A Saanich Fire Department engine also responded, but was called off before it arrived, due to Victoria crews getting the fire under control.

The fire was called in around 10:20 a.m. and upon reaching the scene, firefighters found black smoke coming from a balcony area. Inside, the hallway where the burning suite was located was filled with smoke.

An aggressive attack by firefighters managed to contain the blaze to the one apartment. Flames mainly damaged the bedroom and hallway areas, but the rest of the suite had extensive heat and smoke damage.

The two occupants of the apartment escaped unharmed and have been relocated through the City of Victoria's evacuee assistance program, with their suite being rendered uninhabitable. No other residents were harmed or forced to stay elsewhere.

editor@vicnews.com