Gulf Shores, Ala. — (GSN) — Coyote Beach Sports, located at 112 E 1st Ave just a block off the beach in Gulf Shores, was severely damaged in an early morning fire.

While the business had recently survived Hurricane Isaias without experiencing any damage, it could not escape the blaze that broke out early Tuesday morning.

Just before 3:00 a.m., a Gulf Shores police officer on patrol smelled smoke in the air and investigated the area to locate its source. Inside the old beach house structure, owner Terry Shelton was asleep when he heard noises outside.

Shelton reported seeing police officers with flashlights outside before noticing that his eyes were burning and the building was filling with smoke. When he opened the door to let the smoke out, an officer was standing right outside. Shelton was safely rescued from the building thanks to the quick action of the Gulf Shores Police Department.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but city officials will look at malfunctioning lithium batteries as a possibility.