Update: Pictures Of Majestic Condo Fire Near Branson

By Jason Rima

CREATED Aug. 2, 2012

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  • Hilltop view of the Majestic Condo Fire.

  • Another close up view of the Majestic Condo fire.

  • Close up view of the Majestic Condo fire.

  • Lake view of the Majestic Condo fire.

  • Beach view of the Majestic Condo fire

It's going to be at least a couple of days before things cool down enough for the state fire marshal to find out what started the fire that destroyed the Majestic Condos near Branson.
 
Fire gutted the four-story building, forcing the evacuation of about 20 people.
 
Assistant Western Taney County fire chief Jim Single says its unclear what started the fire -- but its definitely not suspicious.
 
"We believe it was the second or the third floor that's going to end being our point of origin," says Single."
 
"There's some video being reviewed by the investigator."
 
Single says there are a lot of rumors floating around about what started the blaze, but he says it's too early to make a determination.
 
A construction company is being called in to tear down what's left of the two buildings. An engineer for the city of Branson declared them unsafe for firefighters on Thursday morning.

Fire investigators were back at work on Thursday putting out hotspots, but had everything under control by mid-morning.

About 20 people had  to be evacuated from the four-story building Wednesday afternoon.

Southern Stone County Fire Spokesman Eric Neilsen says the condos were a total loss.

Firefighters had to battle a lack of water and strong storms. Crews pumped water from nearby Table Rock Lake.

But Neilsen says the fire trucks had to be pulled back when thunderstorms with 40 to 50-mile an hour wind gusts fanned the flames, making it impossible to contain the blaze.

The wind sent the flames into the woods and even destroyed a vehicle on the parking lot.

A handful of people were allowed back in Thursday morning to salvage what they could, but most of the units were off limits.

Western Taney County firefighters fought the flames with help from Southern Stone County and the Branson fire department.