AUBURN — A fire Monday on James Street has been ruled accidental, officials said Wednesday.

The fire Monday morning at 39 James St. destroyed much of a 2 1/2-story building.

Fire crews from Lewiston and Auburn were called to the building around 10 a.m. The first firefighters on scene reported heavy smoke coming from the rear of the building and from the roof.

A battalion chief said later Monday that the second and third floors of the residential building were vacant — the three occupants lived on the first floor, fire officials said. They escaped without injury.

“FMO investigators noted that renovation materials and debris were present in the affected area, and the fire appeared to have originated on the second level toward the rear of the structure,” a news release from the Office of State Fire Marshal said. “The Office of State Fire Marshal reminds property owners and contractors to handle and dispose of renovation materials in accordance with product safety guidelines to help prevent similar incidents.”

The American Red Cross was working with those tenants later Monday to secure temporary housing and assistance.

The building was deemed uninhabitable due to the amount of damage throughout the building.

Fire departments from Mechanic Falls, Minot and Durham provided station backup for Auburn Fire Department.