As firefighters rushed to stop 400,000 litres of water pouring from fire hydrants inside a Melbourne hotel they came across Bradley Vogt, mop in hand, trying to clean up the mess he's accused of creating.

There wasn't much the Traralgon man could have done as water gushed from hydrants on 18 floors of the Experience Bella Hotel in May 2018, so firefighters evacuated him along with more than 300 guests.

The aftermath of the flood at the Experience Bella hotel. Credit:Joe Armao

But minutes later more firefighters came across the 28-year-old lying on the stairs two levels down, the mop still in his hand and water flowing over his body.

Vogt faced a committal hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with seven offences including intentionally causing damage up to $2 million, resisting emergency workers, interfering with a hydrant and trafficking ice.