INDIAN POINT, Mo. -- Thick smoke spilled out from Wolf Ridge Lodge, getting officers' attention. While on patrol they saw flames in one of the condominium units and alerted the one couple who lived in the building but didn't know it was burning around them.

"We got to get out and that's all I'm thinking of. In a situation like thatm you just say let's go, let's go," said police officer Jeff Lofton.

Thanks to officers, the distraught couple, along with their dog, escaped in time before the smoke alarm went off. As for the owners of the condos, Carol Garner showed up at the most inopportune time.

"I just got here and it's just in flames," said Garner.

Garner says they have only had the place for four years and have no idea how the fire could have started.

Several fire departments responded to the fire, spending hours knocking down flames that had traffic backed up for a mile and a half in each direction.

"Traffic is a mess; Indian Point Road, there's one way in and one way out," said Gordon Weathers, a spokesman for Southern Stone County Fire Protection District.

Firefighters needed the road to get as much water as they could to throw on the flames.

"Their blood pressure is starting to get pretty high right now. Try to keep them calm. Tell them we'll get them out as soon as we can," Weathers told people holding back traffic.

For some, this is vacation.

"I guess if we had show tickets, I'd be very frustrated but, no, I'm not frustrated. It's good to be away from home," said Becky Miller.

Though it's not the way they would like to spend their time, Miller says it's all about perspective.

"There are people who are a lot worse than we are," said Miller.

As of 10 p.m. firefighters weren't sure whether the condo units are a total loss. They won't know until they go back inside and assess the damage. As for the couple who lived there, they're staying at a hotel for now.
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News release from Southern Stone County Fire Department on Friday morning:

Early Thursday evening Indian Point Police on patrol, discovered flames coming from Wolf Lodge Condo's on Indian Point Road. Offices notified 911 and began evacuating the residence. The 3 story 4 condo building was about 50% involved when firefighter arrived on scene.

Indian Point officers were able to evacuate the building without any injuries. Fire crews arriving on-scene immediately struck a second alarm. 60 firefighters and 23 pieces of apparatus from Southern Stone County Fire Protection District, Branson Fire and Rescue, and Western Taney County Fire Protection District fought the condo fire for nearly five hours. Fire crews from Northern Stone/North East Barry County and Highlandville were requested to cover Southern Stone stations while their resources were committed to the condo fire.

Fire Crews struggled with bystanders most of the evening trying to keep them out of the fire scene as the night progressed. With Indian Point Road being one lane in and one lane out. Traffic was a major issue. Fire crews were forced to set up operations in the middle of Indian Point Road shutting down traffic for over 5 hours. This backed up traffic leaving Indian Point and Resident and Visitors trying to come home to Indian Point. The fire is still under investigation.