The hot weather created an additional problem in fighting a house fire in Ossining Thursday.

A three-story building in the downtown area became engulfed in flames around 12 p.m. Firefighters had help from several surrounding departments not because the fire was particularly large, but because the hot weather and the age of the building made it harder to fight. Investigators say the fire started in the kitchen, apparently from a fan.

The family was able to escape the fire, but lost everything. However, firefighters were able to rescue their cat, ironically named ?Smokey.?