ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – A house on Delaware Ave is being called a total loss after an early morning fire in Albany which started around 7:30 a.m., Thursday.

Albany Fire Chief Joseph Gregory says a bystander was walking by the home when they spotted the flames and jumped into action. He says they knocked on the door to alert those inside and then helped them all evacuate safely, before firefighters arrived.

Chief Gregory says there are three apartments inside the home. At the time of the fire there were eight people inside but only five of them are residents.

When firefighters arrived they found a heavy volume of fire on the second floor and issued a second alarm because flames were impinging on neighboring homes. Firefighters were able to contain the flames and the surrounding structures suffered minimal damage according to the Albany Fire Department.

A tenant tells News10 ABC they believe the fire started on the second floor of the home, however the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Chief Gregory says the smoke detectors were operational at the time and calls this story a great example of people-helping-people.