Utica fire officials have released the cause of last Friday morning's fire on Pleasant Street that left six people homeless.

They say the fire, which started on the second-floor porch, was caused by carelessly discarded smoking material

Meanwhile, officials say if it had not been for the quick thinking and selfless actions of two civilians, the tenants may have not gotten out of the building unharmed.

Daniel Budzynski, a driver for the City Cab Company who was driving by the building, called 9-1-1. A passenger in his cab, Tim Cubbage, entered the building, woke up the tenants and escorted them from the building.

Their actions are being called "heroic."

No one was injured in the fire.

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