OGDENSBURG — A fire broke out shortly after 4:40 Monday afternoon at the old cheese plant located on Lincoln Avenue.

Ogdensburg Fire was dispatched for the report of smoke coming from a window of the building.

Capt. Chuck Irvine in Engine 3 found heavy smoke issuing from the building from the twin bridges. He placed the all-call for off duty and Heuvelton to the scene. Once on scene and determining that there was a large amount of fire, the call for Morristown with an engine and their tower was placed.

“Both engines secured a hydrant and began attacking the fire from the exterior,” fire officials said.

Off duty members were requested to respond with the quint for aerial operations. The fire appeared to be rapidly spreading and Gouverneur was requested for assistance.

“Deck gun operations were put into place for large water flow to try and darken down the large body of fire,” officials said. “Heuvelton arrived and secured another hydrant but due to all hydrants being utilized being on the same loop poor water volume was an issue. Once Morristown town arrived with their engine and tower a draft site from the river was established.”

The main body of fire was beginning to be knocked down and Gouverneur was canceled.

DPW arrived with an excavator to begin to access the building for further extinguishment.

Rensselaer Falls fire covered the city during this incident.

A decision was made early that no firefighter was to enter the structure as it is vacant and had previously burned.

At this time the fire is under investigation, but it will be tough to pinpoint the cause due to the deteriorated state of the building, officials said.

“A tremendous thanks to Heuvelton, Morristown, Lisbon, Gouverneur, Rensselaer Falls, and Canton fire for support onscene and standing by. Also, the DPW, OPD, Heuvelton Fire and Morristown auxiliaries, state police, SLC sheriff's, County cars 9 and 4,” officials said.