Flames ripped through the night sky and sparks showered down on the Ocean Club late Wednesday, as firefighters worked to control a massive blaze that injured several firemen -- and left millions of dollars worth of ocean-front condos in ruins.

One witness Mark Hinson said he’d never seen anything like it, and it was the same for witness Tony Pierson vacationing from Charlotte:

"The wind was blowing, and it was just so intense that it just went so fast, there was just no way."

Pierson says it only took a few minutes for "Building A" to become fully engulfed -- while it took firefighters more than an hour to bring the blaze under control.

Emergency workers evacuated three other nearby condo buildings -- and hosed them down in hopes of keeping them from going up in flames, too.

The evacuations came just in the nick of time -- as an explosion rocked "Building A."

An electric transformer door blew off hitting one firefighter -- he's one of three who had to go to the hospital.

While building a is a total loss, it's the quick work of dozens of firefighters from more than six departments here in Carteret County that's being credited with saving several other structures that are close by.

Kevin Rohrer, of Graham, another witness has this to say on the firefighter’s response to the blaze:

"They done a heck of a job with it. Especially saving the second unit that was next door to it."

Officials say three condos in the ten-unit building were occupied when the fire started -- all the people inside got out safely.

All the firefighters who were injured are expected to be just fine.

The Carteret County fire marshal is investigating the fire -- there's no word yet on what caused it.

Nine on Your Side will continue to cover the scene throughout the day -- we'll bring you the latest information as we get it.