NANTICOKE, N.Y. -- It was all hands on deck Monday morning as fire departments from across northern Broome County responded to a house fire where a number of people reportedly made it out OK.

Neighbors tell us 14 of those were children, inside the home on Swan Hill Road in the town of Nanticoke. They may have been waiting for the bus, because the school bus actually pulled up as the fire department was arriving.

Officials say everyone got out safely, but it took assistance from multiple departments at the scene to bring the flames under control.

The house is unlivable at this time. Crews are still investigating the cause of the fire, but believe it started in the chimney area and spread to the attic.

Glen Aubrey Fire Chief Gary Smith says the layout of the home was a challenge, and staffing was limited.

"We were shorthanded this morning. We had five people and without the mutual aid program, we would have been lost. We wouldn't have saved anything," Smith said.

Crews from Endwell, Union and Whitney Point also responded. The Red Cross is assisting the entire family.