A group of children in the play waited outside while firefighters with the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department entered the building. Firefighters used a bit of water to knock down flames left behind after someone had already used a fire extinguisher. They brought in a chainsaw to cut a seven-by-three-foot area from out of the second-story floor.

SLVFD Chief Brendan Keough said the fire started on the second story after a spotlight was left on, face-down, on the floor.

“It actually burned though three layers of flooring into the ceiling of the theater,” Keough said.

Firefighters tossed charred boards from the upper-floor window of the building. Some of the boards had perfect circular holes burned through them.

Dust and smoke rise from insulation as a Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department member removes it from the second floor of Pendragon Theatre Monday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

Keough said the fire got between the second-story floor and the first-story ceiling, burning insulation and running down the wooden beams.

The Camp Pendragon actors there — around 15 of them — had been rehearsing C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” which is set to open Thursday.

Will Domenico, who plays Mr. Beaver, and Ava Boyea, who plays a variety of animals, said they were outside on their lunch break when they smelled the smoke.

“A little bit of excitement on the lunch break,” Director Sarah Norris said.

Norris said some of the kids wanted to go back in to retrieve their phones, but she wouldn’t let them.

Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department member Garrett Krasher removes burned wood, insulation and drywall from the second floor of Pendragon Theatre. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

Stage Manager Mireena Fleury said the fire department was there within minutes of receiving the call.

The crowd of young actors gathered outside watched excitedly as the firefighters went to work, oohing and ahhing as they brought in a chainsaw and threw out burned insulation.

The kids chatted and danced to keep themselves entertained for a bit and local playwright Karen Lewis went and got the kids doughnuts. While the firefighters continued their work, the leaders of Camp Pendragon decided “the show must go on” and went to practice their lines in the grass.

Norris said she hopes the damage will not hold up the show.

Keough said there was a bit of smoke and water damage, but it is up to the village code enforcement office to decide if the building can be used later this week.

Children attending Camp Pendragon watch from the theater’s parking lot Monday — taking pictures, talking and dancing — as the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department knocks down a fire Monday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)