Several families were displaced after a fire tore through a multi-family home in Yonkers Sunday afternoon.

Fire officials say the flames at the building on Riverview Place sparked just before 4:30 p.m. in the multi-family duplex that housed six families.

They say the fire likely started in the garbage which is stacked up against the side of the building.

Victims of the fast-moving fire were allowed to return to their apartments to retrieve their belongings.

One resident said, even in light of all the damage and destruction left behind, he still considers himself one of the lucky ones.

"We were very blessed. I went in to grab my bag. As far as damage from water or fire, nothing. Which is excellent," the resident told News 12.

"The third floor suffered a lot of damage. The fire rode up the outside of the building, damaging the first and second floors somewhat, but the most damage is on the third floor," explained Yonkers Assistant Fire Chief Sean Moran.

Henry Estevez lives in the building next door. He still did not escape the effects of the fire.

"The windows are broken out, the siding is all melted, the whole back side got cracked," he said.

It took more than three dozen firefighters to bring the blaze under control.

Investigators say three firefighters suffered minor injuries, but not no residents were hurt.

The first two floors of the duplex are not badly damaged as of Sunday night, but investigators said the third floor is virtually unlivable.