SENECA FALLS - About 35 people were safely evacuated when fire broke out Wednesday evening in the Mews, an assisted-living apartment facility on the shore of Van Cleef Lake in Seneca Falls.

According to a news release form the American Red Cross of the Finder Lakes, many of the residents are clients of Lakeview Mental Health and Seneca-Cayuga ARC.

No one was injured in the fire, which began at approximately 6:30 p.m. and was declared under control at about 8 p.m. Six fire departments responded to the alarm.

The Red Cross said the fire began in a corner apartment on the top floor of the three-story building. Evacuees were taken to nearby Trinity Episcopal Church, where the American Red Cross of the Finger Lakes set up a triage station. There, they were fed pizza and drinks donated by the Nice and Easy, and were assessed for medical conditions by EMTs from North Seneca Ambulance Service.

John Vaughn, Seneca Falls code enforcement officer, declared the building uninhabitable because the fire alarm system had been compromised by the blaze. Several apartments also sustained smoke and water damage, the Red Cross said. In addition to the residents, about eight cats and a bird were rescued. The animals were taken by volunteers from Beverly Animal Shelter to the shelter in Waterloo where they will be cared for.

Lakeview Mental Health arranged for its clients to spend the night at the Seneca Falls-Waterloo Holiday Inn. Other residents may stay at the church where the Red Cross is prepared to set up a shelter under the direction of Tom Crocker, assisted by about a dozen Red Cross volunteers. Red Cross volunteer mental health counselors also were available to assist those in the shelter.

Donations are being accepted by American Red Cross in the Finger Lakes, 83 W. Bayard Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148.