Victoria firefighters fight blaze at Canada’s oldest Chinese temple

Victoria firefighters fight blaze at Canada’s oldest Chinese temple

Published 10:27 am Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Part of Fisgard Street is closed as first responders respond to a potential fire in Chinatown. (Tony Trozzo/Victoria News)

Fisgard Street is closed between the Government Street and Douglas Street intersections as the Victoria Fire Department responds to a fire at the Tam Kung Temple building in Chinatown.

The City of Victoria said the fire department responded to the incident just after 3 p.m. on Monday (June 15). Fire had gone into the ceiling structure of the historic building.

The building was evacuated and no injuries were reported.

The Tam Kung Temple is designated as a national historic site, originating as a shrine in the 1860s. It’s known as Canada’s oldest Chinese temple.

Video from around 3 p.m. shows smoke billowing above Victoria’s Chinatown. Fire investigators are on scene, with police and firefighters responding to the scene as well.

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