[UPDATE] Accidental Fire Damages South Regent Street Home in Port Chester

UPDATE (11:30 a.m.) - Investigators believe a fire that left a South Regent Street building uninhabitable overnight was accidental, possibly caused by a cigarette left burning on a windowsill.

Port Chester Police said village officers evacuated a total of 27 residents from 241 S. Regent St. after discovering flames coming from a third-floor window of the multi-family building at around 12:30 a.m.

Village building officials determined the building was uninhabitable after the fire and Con Edison was called in to cut utility service. The American Red Cross says it is providing assistance to all six families that were living in the building, with five families receiving emergency housing through the Red Cross.

Port Chester Police Lt. James Ladeairous said village police officers were able to quickly evacuate two families from the third floor of the building when they saw the fire. However, village officers had to force open doors on the second floor to evauate residents who did not respond to their knocks at the door.

After Port Chester firefighters extinguished the fire, Ladeairous said Westchester County arson investigators examined the building. Ladeairous said the investigators determined the fire was accidental and that is appears a the fire may have started from cigarettes or an ash tray left at a third floor window.

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A multiple-family home on South Regent Street was damaged by fire early this morning.

A fire was reported at about 12:30 a.m. at 241 S. Regent St., with the fire affecting the upper levels of the home, according to Port Chester firefighters. Firefighters were at the home for more than two hours.

Port Chester village Board of Trustees member Luis Marino, who is also a lieutenant in the Port Chester Fire Department, said members of the Port Chester Police Department got residents out of the house quickly and volunteer firefighters were able to knock down the fire quickly.

"As a trustee and as a firefighter, I wanted to thank the Police Department," said Marino.

The house sustained fire, smoke and water damage, but Marino said volunteer firefighters were able to stop the fire before it could destroy the home.

An investigation into the fire continues to determine the cause.

In addition to Port Chester police and firefighters, firefighters from the Town of Mamaroneck were called to have a "FAST" team on standby to assist if any firefighters became trapped in the house.

The American Red Cross said six families were displaced by the fire, affecting at least 25 people.