Massive fire erupts near Bay Street sending smoke across downtown Victoria

A massive apartment fire on Queens Avenue sent flames high into the air and a thick plume of smoke across downtown Victoria Saturday morning.

VicPD confirmed that police and fire crews are responding to the fire, which broke out shortly after 6 a.m. on October 24th.

Photos and videos shared with Victoria Buzz show intense orange flames and heavy smoke rising from the building. Images taken from elsewhere in downtown show a large plume stretching across the skyline.

One resident near Cook and Johnson streets said the smoke was strong enough to wake them.

Blanshard Street is currently closed in both directions around the fire.

Southbound lanes are closed from Bay Street to Princess Avenue, while northbound lanes are closed from Bay Street to Pembroke Street.

VicPD is asking people to avoid the area, use alternate routes and give emergency crews the space they need to respond safely.

There is currently no confirmed information about possible injuries, the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage.

More to come.