Luxury condo building is a total loss

BRANSON, Mo. -- Very little is left of a luxury condo complex at Table Rock Lake just outside Branson.  Firefighters were still busy at the scene, putting out hot spots on Thursday night. The 68-unit building is a total loss.

"It is surprising that everyone did get out. We got the clothes on our back, and our two cats," Jane and Mike Marler said. "We got our cats and we got ourselves; we are in good shape. We just paid our rent yesterday."

For the last year, a condo on the fourth floor was their home. They came back to get their car.  On Wednesday, firefighters blocked off the area where it was parked.

"It does have some damage on the back," the Marlers said.

As the Marlers start over, firefighters are trying to figure out what happened.  Crews were finally starting to work their way into the gutted structure. For more than 12 hours, it was considered unsafe. They hope to know the cause of the fire in a couple days.

Fire officials blame Wednesday's high winds for the dramatic flames. The building had a working sprinkler system and a firewall. 

"A firewall is only made to last -- that one, probably two hours," Western Taney County Assistant Chief Jim Single said. "The fire went way beyond the two-hour period."

The owners of the Majestic are helping the displaced find new temporary homes while the Red Cross provides food, water and other basics.

"Gosh, somebody's gotta do it," Dennis Rutledge with the Red Cross said. "Oh, it just breaks your heart. We are delighted that there's no death or injury."