MOUNT VERNON, Westchester County, NY (WABC) -- A raging fire ripped through three buildings in Mount Vernon, leaving ten people displaced.
The fire department was called to the scene after the blaze broke out at 213 South 3rd Avenue at about 10:45 Sunday night.
There was heavy fire on the first and second floors of the three-story home. It eventually collapsed due to the intense flames and heat.
Flames were quickly spreading from the building to two homes next door, which were vacant.
An apartment building next door had to be evacuated, but the 45 residents were allowed back in Monday morning.
No injuries were reported.
The Red Cross is assisting the ten people displaced.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Arson or foul play is suspected. Mount Verson is a cesspool of crime and gang activity. Another former good play to live has changed by loose law enforcement. Democrats' work at play here and other urban towns/cities.
The crime rate in Mount Vernon is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 34 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate.
The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Mount Vernon is 1 in 29. Based on FBI crime data, Mount Vernon is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to New York, Mount Vernon has a crime rate that is higher than 90% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.
In fact, after researching dangerous places to live, NeighborhoodScout found Mount Vernon to be one of the top 100 most dangerous cities in the U.S.A.
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MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Three homes were consumed by flames in a late night fire in Mount Vernon.
The fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. Sunday at a home on South 3rd Avenue. Fire officials say by the time that crews arrived on scene, the home was completely engulfed.
“Fire was coming out on all sides upon our arrival,” Mount Vernon Fire Chief Al-Farid Salahuddin said. “So it had a good start on it before we were called.”
The chief says the home where the fire started was abandoned, but the flames quickly spread to the homes on both sides.
“That thing spread quick and it spread through this house very quickly,” resident Anthony McDade said. “You could see the flames just coming up on our windows and stairwells. Big, huge flames.”
One house was empty and for sale and the other was a multi-family home, where the chief says there was a partial collapse in the rear of the building. The home where the fire started also collapsed.
The chief said everyone did manage to escape the fire and no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Arson or foul play is suspected.