Over 40 people, including 19 children, are homeless today after a fast-moving fire ripped through their Yonkers homes.

Fire officials say flames broke out between the two buildings on 70 and 72 Ash St. in Yonkers around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

A fire house is located right around the corner, and crews got to the scene within minutes, but flames had already spread to both buildings and the department needed backup.

Over 100 firefighters responded, and the flames were mostly under control in as little as 20 minutes.

However, Deputy Chief Joe Citrone says it was no easy task preventing the flames from spreading to a third building. "The weather is starting to get a little cold, this being on a hill, there was some challenges to set up...and the gasoline siding on both buildings were a contributing factor to the fire spread."

Gasoline siding is a term that is used by firefighters to describe highly flammable house siding.

Deputy Chief Citrone says one person had to be rescued from the basement, but everyone else was able to escape themselves.

Buildings 70 and 72 are totally inhabitable at this point. The Red Cross is offering temporary shelter to those who need it.

The cause of the fire has not been released yet.