White Plains firefighters said they minimized damage to a large boarding home on South Broadway that caught fire early Thursday evening, though all residents were displaced.

"It's a sudden change in life that we face," resident Salvador Fernandez said.

Fernandez told News 12 he stepped out for 10 minutes to run an errand, and returned to a chaotic scene.

He expects he lost a lot of important items.

"I have some medications I take. I have some chronic ailments," he said, "so I have to call somebody, maybe my doctor and get a prescription for the time range."

Residents said 11 adults reside at the building in their own rooms sharing a kitchen, and a family lives in a full apartment on the ground floor.

White Plains Deputy Fire Chief Adam Caponera said that upon arrival, fire crews saw at least two people running from the building, calling for help.

He said the first crews arrived 45 seconds after the initial.

"They did a heck of a job, Caponera said, "got here quickly, knocked it down and saved it from becoming a much bigger incident."

The Red Cross was called to the scene to help set up temporary housing for all residents, including the family who lives downstairs.

The cause remains under investigation.

Investigators are paying special attention to the back of the building, where most of the damage is.

Deputy Chief Caponera said because of their quick response, firefighters saved about 75% of the home.