Fire Destroys Condominium Building in Orange Beach, Alabama

Authorities say a massive overnight fire ripped through a condominium complex in Orange Beach, leaving much of the building in ruins.

Fire officials said the blaze began sometime before 4 a.m. Tuesday, and crews were still battling the fire three hours later at the Island Dunes Condo in the Gulf Coast beach town.

Orange Beach Fire Chief Shane Phillips told The Associated Press that some people were rescued from balconies as flames on their ceiling and walls surrounded them, but no injuries were reported. He said ``we're just blessed.''

Phillips said at least a dozen units in the building are completely gone, and another 10 were damaged so badly they're uninhabitable.

Phillips said about 50 firefighters battled the blaze, and police and fire crews from nearby towns in Alabama and Florida also responded.

Thousands of Shreveport Bossier residents travel to Orange Beach, Alabama for vacation each year.