UPPER SARANAC LAKE � A seasonal cottage on Upper Saranac Lake was destroyed by fire Monday afternoon.
The cottage, located nearly halfway between Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, was about 90 percent destroyed by flames by the time firefighters reached the scene.
"The first call came in just at noon, and then we got several other calls from all over," said Saranac Lake Fire Chief Bob Girard. "People from across the lake could see the smoke coming from the structure."
Firefighters arrived within 15 minutes but could do little to save the structure.
"The fire had spread into the woods probably 75 feet from the building," Girard said. "We had to contend with all those fires in a circular area around the building.
"It�s pretty dry out there, a lot of leaves and twigs and pine needles on the surface."
A garage was within 25 yards of the cottage, but firefighters were able to keep the flames from that building.
The cottage was owned by Hugo Clearwater, who lives a short distance from the site. Two tenants staying at the cottage had left for work earlier in the morning, so no one was home at the time of the blaze.
The cottage did have electricity but no other heating devices.
"It wasn�t insulated but was used mostly for summertime occupancy," Girard said. "The cause was probably electrical in origin. They had some shorted out wiring."
Tupper Lake provided mutual aid for the blaze. One firefighter from Tupper Lake was taken to Adirondack Medical Center for heat exhaustion and was treated and later released. There were no other injuries, Girard said.
Firefighters were back at their stations by 6 p.m.
