Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) —  Orange Beach Fire & Rescue had a busy night after crews responded to two structure fires along River Road within hours. Both fires broke out during thunderstorms moving through the area. Neither home was occupied when the fires broke out. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported in either incident.

The first fire was reported at approximately 6:06 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in the 32,800 block of River Road on Ono Island. Crews arrived to find an active fire and quickly contained it. Firefighters brought the fire under control and prevented it from spreading to nearby structures.

The second fire was reported at approximately 1:19 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, in the 33,000 block of River Road. Firefighters responded to another structure fire and aggressively extinguished the flames and protected surrounding properties.

The cause and origin of both fires remain under investigation. Because both incidents occurred during the storm system, investigators are examining all potential causes, including lightning. No official determination has been made at this time regarding the cause of either fire.

Orange Beach Fire & Rescue received assistance from Gulf Shores Fire Rescue, Escambia County Fire Rescue, and the Orange Beach Police Department during both responses.

Fire Chief Jeff Smith praised his crews following the overnight ordeal. "Our crews did an excellent job responding to two separate structure fires in a relatively short period of time while also handling seven additional incidents throughout the night," Smith said. "Those additional calls included a Tanker Task Force response to assist the Robertsdale Fire Department."

Smith added that his department's performance reflected the high standard the community expected. "I'm extremely proud of the professionalism and dedication our firefighters demonstrated throughout a very busy night," he said. "They continued to respond, operate safely, and provide the level of service our community expects, while also being there to assist our neighboring departments when called upon."

Additional information will be released as it becomes available without compromising the ongoing investigations.