State police are crediting the acts of a neighbor in saving two children from a home filled with smoke in Steuben County Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities say crews from the village of Savona Fire Department were called to a home on Main Street for the report of a smoke alarm going off.

Police say a neighbor saw the smoke and brought a 2-year-old and 6-year-old, who were left home alone, to safety.

While crews responded to the call, the mother of the children, 34-year-old Khristie Dearmitt returned home.

Investigators say food left on an active stove burner was the cause of the fire.

Dearmitt has been charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

She's due back in Savona Village Court on January 15.

Correction: The neighbor did not enter the home to rescue the two young children.