Officer alerts Indian Shores residents to condo fire

INDIAN SHORES (FOX 13) - A police officer suffered minor injuries while alerting condo residents to a fire in their building this morning.

It was around 7 a.m. when the officer spotted flames at the Salt Air condo complex during his routine patrol and started banging on doors to warn everyone.  Three of the five units were occupied, but everyone got out thanks largely to the officer's efforts.

The officer suffered minor smoke-inhalation injuries in the process.

Firefighters, meanwhile, had a hard time battling the blaze because of Hurricane Hermine.  They dumped water on the stubborn, wind-whipped flames for over two hours.

Crews are still on scene but it appears that, between the fire and water damage, the three-story beachfront building is likely a total loss.