BY MATT LINDSEY
North Country This Week

RENSSELAER FALLS — A fire destroyed an apartment building downtown yesterday afternoon but everyone made it out safely, including a pet.

The blaze, which was reported around 1:30 p.m. by a tenant, was also spotted by several North Country Now viewers who submitted photos.

Several fire departments from the area responded to the scene including firefighters from Rensselaer Falls, Canton, Morley, DeKalb, Ogdensburg, Lisbon and Heuvelton. State police were also on scene.

Photos show flames shooting out of the building in all directions, as well as the roof. Heavy smoke billows into the sky.

The building is located at 209 Rensselaer Street near the bridge overlooking the Oswegatchie River.

[img_assist|nid=315596|title=|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=772|height=900]

A Canton Fire Department bucket truck hovers over the burning building. Photo by Derrick Conway of Rensselaer Falls.

Dallas Denny, Rensselaer Falls fire chief, said there were five apartments in the building and that at least two people were home at the time of the blaze.

Denny said firefighters were unable to save the structure, but did stop the fire from spreading to a nearby home.

The brick building with wooden beams burned too quickly for firefighters to save the inside of the building, Denny said. Once rescue personnel confirmed everyone was out the the building, the decision was made not to send firefighters inside.

"I wasn't putting them in danger," Denny said.

A combination of strong winds and the fire spreading so quickly made a save virtually impossible.

All occupants made it out safely prior to firefighters arriving on scene, including a small dog, he said.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, Denny said.

[img_assist|nid=315597|title=|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=1200|height=853]The battle to put the fire out took a few hours, but there were no injuries sustained. Photo by Manny Fernandez.