Several families escaped a fire in Gloversville early Wednesday afternoon.

Gloversville Fire Chief Tom Groff said the fire started around 3 p.m. at 10 North St. Groff said two of the apartments in the back of this building were on fire – one on the first floor and the other on the second floor. The fire extended its way up to the attic, Groff said.

The chief estimates 17 people lived in the apartment homes and they all made it out safely. Neighbor Emilio Mauleon said the heat from the fire was so intense you could feel it across the street in the parking lot. “The roof itself was engulfed and the flames were going maybe 15 to 20 feet above the roof. That’s how high the flames were,” said Mauleon.

Firefighters spent hours working to knock it down.

Groff says the damage inside the home is extensive, and the building will need to be knocked down.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

We’ll have updates on WNYT.com and our newscasts as we get them.