Fire at the former Monty’s Showroom pub and Plaza Hotel.

May 6, 2019

I was up at 6:30am Monday morning to edit photos from a Sunday assignment when I heard the initial news reports of a fire at the former Monty’s Showroom Pub and Plaza hotel. Looking back now I wish I would have headed downtown right away and delayed the completion of the edit. When I arrived downtown the flames were out but there was still a lot of smoke and action happening in and around the hotel that made for some unique photographs.

I’m sure glad I brought a mask as when I removed it periodically to re-adjust I really noticed how good a job it was doing at keeping the smoke out of my lungs.

I parked at the top of a nearby parkade to get an elevated view of the fire and then I walked down to street level for the remainder of the photos. It worked well and out of the 15 photos below six were shot with a 24mm wide angle, six were shot with a 70-200mm and three were shot with a 600mm. I didn’t really need the 600mm but as I wasn’t sure how far way the Police had cordoned off the streets. I’m glad I had it but it does reduce mobility.

Initial view from the top of the Yates street parkade.

VICTORIA, B.C.: MAY 6, 2019- Victoria firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at the former Monty’s Showroom Pub and Plaza Hotel. Victoria, British Columbia on May 6, 2019. (KEVIN LIGHT).

VICTORIA, B.C.: MAY 6, 2019- Victoria firefighters with the help of a drone work to extinguish a blaze at the former Monty’s Showroom Pub and Plaza Hotel. Victoria, British Columbia on May 6, 2019. (KEVIN LIGHT).

VICTORIA, B.C.: MAY 6, 2019- A women walks through smoke along Government street as Victoria firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at the former Monty’s Showroom Pub and Plaza Hotel. Victoria, British Columbia on May 6, 2019. (KEVIN LIGHT).

VICTORIA, B.C.: MAY 6, 2019- A man walks along Broad street as Victoria firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at the former Monty’s Showroom Pub and Plaza Hotel. Victoria, British Columbia on May 6, 2019. (KEVIN LIGHT).

VICTORIA, B.C.: MAY 6, 2019- A women talks on her phone as Victoria firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at the former Monty’s Showroom Pub and Plaza Hotel. Victoria, British Columbia on May 6, 2019. (KEVIN LIGHT).

VICTORIA, B.C.: MAY 6, 2019- Onlookers watch from Broad street as Victoria firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at the former Monty’s Showroom Pub and Plaza Hotel. Victoria, British Columbia on May 6, 2019. (KEVIN LIGHT).

Everyone around the scene seemed accepting of having their photo taken. I even had one gentleman offer to hold my 600mm lens and camera while I knelt on the ground using my other camera. Below are a few of those photos and yes I declined the mans offer and held my camera.