MEXICO — Quick action by a tenant and the Mexico Fire Department prevented a major fire at a 77 Granite St. apartment house.

Fire Chief Gary Wentzell said the 4:30 a.m. Wednesday fire apparently began when smoking materials were not extinguished when they were placed in a bucket on the porch.

They apparently caught fire, then set the porch aflame, damaging the front exterior wall and climbing to the eaves, he said.

Mexico firefighter Mike Chartier said he was the first to arrive. He saw flames on the porch, and one of the tenants trying to extinguish the flames with a garden hose.

Wentzell said firefighters were on scene for about an hour dousing smoldering materials inside the building’s eaves. He estimated damage at $5,000 or more.

Tenants in the three apartments were home at the time, but no one was injured. Wentzell said the families will not be required to leave the building.

Owner of the building is Mark Cyr of Mexico. Wentzell doesn’t know whether the building was insured.

Responding to the fire were about 18 firefighters from Mexico and Rumford, Med-Care Ambulance Service, Mexico and Rumford police officers and an officer from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Mexico’s ladder truck and three fire engines.