A discarded cigarette likely caused a fire in a double-block home in Lansford Sunday afternoon, the fire chief said.

Lansford Fire Chief Joseph Greco said the fire at 292 E. Snyder Ave. that displaced at least four people will likely be ruled accidental.

Firefighters responded to the home at 3:20 p.m. and found the fire already venting out of the east side of the home, and beginning to damage siding on the neighboring home, just a few feet away he said.

Firefighters laid in supply lines to protect the adjacent home, while also attacking the fire in 292 E. Snyder Ave., which was contained to a bedroom, Greco said.

The bedroom had heavy fire damage, while the rest of the home sustained heavy smoke damage, he said.

The other half of the double, 290 E. Snyder Ave., only had an odor of smoke from fire next door. The couple living there are staying with family until the home can be cleared of any lingering smoke odor, Greco said.

The neighboring home at 294 E. Snyder Ave. sustained damage to the electrical services, as well as the siding, he said. A resident can return once the electrical is restored, Greco said.

The resident at 292 E. Snyder Ave. told Greco that she had emptied an ashtray into a waste can in her bedroom, and left for the store. She returned 10 minutes later to find the home filled with smoke, Greco said.

Firefighters found the heaviest damage where the resident said the waste can had been located in the bedroom, he said. The fire had burned through the floor in that area, Greco said.

The woman also lost a pet cat in the fire, he said.

Firefighters encountered communications problems while operating on this fire scene, as members were unable to hear each other on their radios at times, and also the chief had trouble communicating with the county communications center, he said.

The fire company will be addressing the problem with the county, Greco said.

Firefighters from two counties responded to the blaze, which went to a second alarm, as a precaution, Greco said. He commended firefighters for the quick stop on this fire, which could have easily spread to neighboring dwellings due to how close the homes are, he said.

In addition to Lansford, firefighters from Summit Hill, Coaldale, Nesquehoning, Jim Thorpe and Tuscarora responded. Also on scene was Tamaqua with its RIT Team, L&L for rehab and Lehighton Ambulance.