Grill Could Be Cause Of Branson Condo Fire

By Jason Rima

CREATED Aug. 3, 2012

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  • An aerial photo of the damage done by the Majestic Condos fire near Branson. Image by Courtesy Jason Preston

  • 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 looks like the fire that destroyed the Majestic Condos near Branson started with a BBQ grill.

Assistant Western Taney County fire chief Jim Single says officially the cause of the fire is undetermined.

But video shows the flames may have started around a grill.

"You know, when we got down to it and diggin' through, there was evidence of several bar-b-que grills in the debris," says Single. "So we really couldn't pinpoint if one was on at the time, or to which unit it would have been assoicated with."

The fire destroyed 68 units, doing $14-million dollars in damage.

Single says the condo was built to code, with working sprinklers and firewalls.

He says the sprinklers did their job, giving people enough time to get out.

But he says the strong winds spread the fire too fast for firefighters to put it out.