Saranac Lake Police Chief Darin Perrotte said all the residents got out safely. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. The fire was reported around 11 a.m. and by noon, firefighters said over the radio that they had knocked the flames down.

The Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department was on scene quickly, as the fire house is only a couple hundred feet away, and the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department joined with their truck later.

Flames could be scene rising on the back porch of the building, concerning neighbors about the fire spreading, and smoke rose from the windows in the attic.

Traffic was rerouted off of this portion of Broadway onto the side streets in the surrounding neighborhoods. The street was still closed as of 12:25 p.m.

Saranac Lake firefighters knock down a blaze at 155 Broadway late Tuesday morning. Everyone escaped, according to officials. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

The building is currently owned by a company called Northern Holdings Group LLC. Earlier this year, it changed hands as former landlord Bob Decker started selling off his properties around the village after a fatal fire at his 11 Elm St. property.

The company has been doing repairs to the building in recent months.

Three of the seven apartments in this building were condemned by village Code Enforcement Officer Chris McClatchie in April. The problem with the three units he condemned — all street-facing apartments — is that there is no secondary means of egress — no alternate route out in the case of a fire.

“God forbid. If they ever had a fire … they’re not going to get out,” McClatchie said at the time. “That was my biggest concern.”

In April, McClatchie also found outdated smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the building, as well as dangerous electrical wiring.

Saranac Lake firefighters knock down a blaze at 155 Broadway late Tuesday morning. Everyone escaped, according to officials. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

“A lot of the electrical is old and faulty with broken wires in the basement that still have power,” he wrote.

The chance for fire was high in the building when he inspected it

McClatchie said that the heat at 155 Broadway was not functioning properly. A furnace in the basement was not running, according to residents, and Northern Holdings Group member Tyler Legault said it wasn’t stocked with coal reliably before they took over the building.

McClatchie said the majority of apartments were being heated with oven doors open and broil on high when he did his inspection.

“How the place didn’t catch fire already, I’ll never know,” McClatchie said in April.

Smoke comes out of 155 Broadway late Tuesday morning during a fire. Everyone escaped, according to officials. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Residents also described a mini-heater they were keeping warm with catching fire.

The building now has several new propane tanks outside.

An open window of the roof gable, where the smoke was pouring out on Tuesday is a roosting place for birds and mammals.

McClatchie’s inspection only came after the building changed hands and Northern Holdings Group allowed him into the property.

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This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information is learned.