Massive blaze destroys resort villas in Brainerd Lakes area

More than a dozen lakeside villas were destroyed in a massive fire in the Brainerd Lakes area over the weekend.

The blaze broke out at around 5:30 a.m. Sunday, and according to the Brainerd Dispatch caused heavy damage to 13 of the 17 individually owned units at the Manhattan Beach Villas in Crosslake, Minnesota.

The roof collapsed on 75 percent of the terrace of condominiums, with 100 firefighters from the area required to knock the blaze down.

There were only two families staying in the villas for the weekend, the newspaper adds, and they were able to get out without injury.

Pictures posted by the Pine River Fire Department shows the huge scale of the blaze at the resort lodgings, which are located next to the Manhattan Beach Lodge on the shores of Big Trout Lake.

FOX 9 reports that 8-10 units at the privately-owned complex are considered a total loss, and only two units emerged unscathed.

Theresa Halverson, manager of the Manhattan Beach Lodge, said it was "very, very fortunate" the lodge wasn't damaged.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.