Seven treated after Brisbane hotel fire (AAP)

Seven people have been hospitalised after a fire all but destroyed a popular nightspot in Brisbane's CBD early Sunday. The blaze broke out in the basement of the Victory Hotel about 2.30am (AEST) and quickly spread to the other two floors of the building, located on the corner of Charlotte and Edward Streets. Authorities have praised the efforts of hotel staff who managed to evacuate the packed building, without anyone being seriously injured. Seven people were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation but none were suffering life threatening injuries. "I believe if the staff hadn't got the patrons out as quickly as possible, we would be looking at fatalities with this job," Queensland Fire and Rescue Service senior operations co-ordinator Acting Inspector Bevan Moore told AAP. Queensland Fire and Rescue officers... [read full story]