STAR LAKE — Dr. Megan Wright will see patients beginning today at Clifton-Fine Hospital rather than at the nearby clinic, which was damaged by fire Saturday.

"This is a short-term measure. We're looking for alternatives," hospital Administrator Robert P. Kimmes said. "The clinic is not usable right now."

All patient records are safe, although they may have to be cleaned by a specialty company, Mr. Kimmes said. The clinic telephone number remains the same at 848-5405. The fax line is also the same number.

Officials aren't certain what caused the fire but are looking at electronic equipment and batteries stored on a rack where the blaze started in the basement.

"I'm not stating that was the start of the fire," St. Lawrence County fire investigator W. Joseph Lacks said. "We couldn't find any other possibilities at the time."

The shelf was heavily damaged, so whatever started the fire may have been consumed by the flames, he said. There was nothing suspicious.

The fire burned a two-foot hole in the floor, and spread into the attic and rafters. The one-story wood structure remains sound but there was considerable smoke and water damage. The fire caused a lot of smoke because plastic storage bins and cots burned.

"It's going to be closed to the public for some time," Mr. Lacks said.

The building is insured but will take time to repair.

"Today's the first day they looked at it," Mr. Kimmes said Monday. "So much is in the air. This has given us the opportunity to improve it."

Clifton-Fine will move Dr. Wright's office for a short time into two rooms in the hospital while it looks for larger space in the community. It will also try to find a location in the community for Dr. Robert Loeb, a dentist from Carthage who was leasing space in the clinic building.

Mr. Lacks said he was pleased that the hospital began evacuation planning even though patients were never in danger.

"We implemented our emergency plan and were preparing to implement our evacuation plan," Mr. Kimmes said. "It was just a precaution."

The hospital is about 50 yards from the clinic but the fire was well-contained and weather conditions were good, Mr. Lacks said.

Firefighters from Star Lake, Fine, Newton Falls, Cranberry Lake, Piercefield, Gouverneur and Harrisville responded to the scene and Edwards Fire and Rescue and the Cranberry Lake Rescue Squad were on standby.