LAKE CLEAR — A cabin on county Route 18 was a “total loss” after a fire Tuesday morning, according to Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Knapp.

Knapp said the single-story cabin was occupied and that everyone was able to get out safely. He said the cabin was not a primary home. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Franklin County Cause and Origin Team.

The fire department was called out to the structure fire at 624 county Route 18 at 7:49 a.m. When they arrived, Knapp said the cabin was fully involved with fire, and had started its structural collapse. The fire spread to two propane tanks right up against the house. Those were extinguished first and Hyde Fuel came to remove the tanks. National Grid also responded to disconnect power to the house.

Knapp said it took roughly 36,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire. Then, with help and excavators from the Saranac Lake Department of Public Works and Harrietstown Highway Department, the structure was demolished.

SLVFD responded with three trucks and 12 members. The Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department responded with two trucks and seven members, Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department responded with around five members, Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department responded with two trucks and three members and the Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Department stood by at the SLVFD station.

Knapp said the department is always looking for more volunteer members.

“Many hands make light work,” he said.

He pointed to the large mutual aid network that was called upon to fight this fire. He gave “kudos” to everyone who responded — to the fire departments, to the town and village crews and to the utility companies.

The fire was contained by 9:50 a.m. and firefighters were back in service at 2:19 p.m.