Several families had to evacuate their homes when a fire ravaged an apartment building in Yonkers on Sunday afternoon.

According to the fire department, the flames broke out in the apartment building on Riverview Place, where six families lived, shortly before 4:30 p.m.

They say the fire probably started in garbage stacked on the side of the building.

Victims of the rapidly spreading fire were allowed to return to their homes and collect their belongings.

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

“We were very lucky. I went in to get my bag. As far as water or fire damage, nothing. That’s excellent,” the resident told News 12.

“The third floor was heavily damaged. The fire spread around the outside of the building and partially damaged the first and second floors, but the most damage is on the third floor,” explained Sean Moran, Yonkers Deputy Fire Chief.

Henry Estevez lives in the building next door. He too was not spared from the consequences of the fire.

“The windows are broken, the siding is melted, the whole back is cracked,” he said.

More than three dozen firefighters were needed to bring the fire under control.

According to investigators, three firefighters suffered minor injuries, but no residents were hurt.

The first two floors of the duplex were not badly damaged Sunday evening, but investigators said the third floor was virtually uninhabitable.