GOUVERNEUR – The fire that swept a Gouverneur apartment building was caused by faulty electrical wiring, according to investigators.

Rumors of a meth lab being in the two-story wood structure were disproved by investigators who say they found no evidence of it when they searched the debris Saturday.

The fire struck the multi-family residence at Clinton and Trinity streets Friday night, slightly injuring three occupants as it destroyed the building.

“After ruling out all other possible causes it appears the fire was accidental in nature by faulty wiring located above the ceiling area of apartment 48a on the west end of the complex,” said county Fire Investigator Joe Lacks.

“It was likely this fire was active for some time before it broke through the ceiling and roof area,” Lacks said.

A Gouverneur firefighter suffered a cut to the thigh.

The occupants of the apartment were asleep, but woke and noticed the heavy smoke. “The father and two children barely managed to escape the blaze,” Lacks said. They were treated at E.J. Noble Hospital for smoke inhalation and were released.

Another resident, in apartment 3, was alerted by a smoke detector that sent off at about the same time and escaped with her son. They were not hurt.

The other two apartments in the building were vacant.

The building was insured but none of the occupants had insurance, according to investigators. Firefighters did manage to get some renters get some items out of the building, but most belongings were lost die to the smoke, water and fire.

The Red Cross and National Grid were called to the scene.

About a dozen fire companies and rescue squads responded in a vain attempt to save the building.

Gouverneur police and the the Gouverneur Fire Department assisted fire investigators.

View slideshow of photos of the fire.