Clues to the cause of a suspicious fire that gutted a Victoria landmark, and the whereabouts of its live-in caretaker, might remain buried beneath layers of debris that continued to burn and spew toxic smoke into the air on Thursday.
Victoria police say they have put numerous resources into looking for Mike Draeger, caretaker for the former Monty’s Showroom Pub and Plaza Hotel, which closed in 2013 and burned down on Monday.
However, he remains unaccounted for.
“Our officers are continuing to make attempts to locate him,” said Const. Matt Rutherford.
A phone number for Draeger is believed to be a landline at the hotel building. No photos of him or video footage from nearby buildings had materialized by Thursday.
“At this time, we do not have any details or pictures that we can release that would assist the public in locating him,” Rutherford said.
Friends say Draeger had a workshop in the basement and lived in a corner unit on the north-east top floor of 603 Pandora Ave., where he worked as a caretaker. They fear he’s buried in the rubble.
By the time firefighters arrived on Monday, the fire in the basement was intense, suggesting that an accelerant was used or that it had burned for a long time undetected. Despite the fact that the building’s fire alarm and sprinkler system were tested and working on April 26, neither appear to have gone off on Monday.
Deputy Fire Chief Chris Royle confirmed wood beams are being tested for accelerants, but said investigators can’t begin their work until the fire is fully extinguished and the unstable east and north walls come down.
“We did take some initial tests [Wednesday], but those are still being analyzed,” Royle said.
“We have our fire investigation team together now and they are getting information together to prepare for it, but still, it’s not a safe scene to have people start the active investigation.”
All the debris will remain on site for investigators, who have been unable to access the basement, which is filled with debris.
Demolition and structural engineers and firefighters worked Thursday to put out hot spots.
A cable and crane were used to tug down what remained of the east wall so it wouldn’t collapse into an alley and nearby heritage buildings.
Waterlogged walls, wood floors, carpet and furnishings hanging from the east wall were also pulled toward the interior of the building. Those had to be removed before the wall could be deconstructed.
Fraser Work, director of engineering and public works at the City of Victoria, said the Government Street wall had been successfully dismantled and the south wall was slowly peeled off the adjacent heritage building at 1413 Government St.
People living and working in that building have not been allowed back in for safety reasons.
Work is hoping that same “success and finesse” would be applied to the remaining east and north walls, which were expected to come down Thursday evening or today.
Government Street remained closed to vehicle traffic between Pandora Avenue and Johnson Street on Thursday, but the west sidewalk was open to pedestrians.
Air quality around the burnt-out building remained poor, and the city is testing the air for contaminants.
