Firefighters pour water on ruins of the Adirondack Inn in the Sacandaga Park.

Smoking ruins was all that remained this morning of a Fulton County landmark, the Adirondack Inn at Sacandaga Park.

Fire destroyed the 85-year-old building early this morning, leaving only a tall chimney standing guard over the smoldering site of the building.

The fire was discovered at 2:38 this morning by John Orloff, who lives in a house adjacent to the property.

Orloff said that he had just parked his car and was opening his door to his house when he heard a crackling noise.

"I saw a glow in the third-floor window of the inn," he said.

"My first impression was it just a light, but then I realized it was flames."

Orloff contacted the Fulton County sheriff's department which in turn called the Northville fire department, who were on the scene at approximately 2:45.

Ora Darling, Northville fire chief, said that when the first truck from Northville arrived "the whole center section of the building was engulfed in flames."

He estimated that the fire was finally brought under control by 4 this morning.

In addition to the Northville fire department, seven other area fire departments sent men and trucks to the scene.

Darling estimated that more than 100 firemen were at the scene of the fire and that approximately 100,000 gallons of water were poured on the burning structure.

The Northville chief said that so far there were no theories on how the fire started, adding that it apparently began on one of the top two floors.

Buildings, including houses, cottages and offices of Lee-Mason International Agency located next to the hotel were not damaged in the fire.

"We were lucky there was no wind blowing," Darling said.

Bystanders said that the sky was lit up and could be seen from as far away as Gloversville. The heat generated from the fire made fire engines that were putting water on surrounding buildings, too hot to touch, according to several firemen.

Firemen used the Sacandaga Park water system for some of their water and then had to run a "shuttle to Northville" for additional water.