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Tony Harrington climbs up from his apartment with his dog, Peanut Butter, as a firefighter holds Casper, his other dog. Firefighters helped him rescue the dogs Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, after a fire at the Heritage Glen Apartments on Pleasant Avenue in Fairfield. Photo By E.L. HUBBARD

By Denise G. Callahan for Dayton Daily News

FAIRFIELD — A Fairfield woman was a hero after she banged on doors at the Heritage Glen Apartments, letting residents know the building was on fire.

Lori Burns was driving past the building in the 4900 block of Pleasant Avenue on her way home from church at around 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12.

Burns said she noticed black smoke billowing out of a second floor balcony. The flames quickly ignited the balcony above.

“What scared me was I saw no one exiting the building, they weren’t even aware of it,” she said. “I started banging on doors on the lower level. The only one who opened was a young girl. She said ‘I was asleep but my dogs started barking when they heard you banging.’ I said, ‘Honey, you would have burned to death.’ ”

Fairfield Fire Chief Don Bennett said 17 families live in the building, but no one was injured. A firefighter was hurt, but Bennett said he wouldn’t release any details. The American Red Cross was on the scene coordinating care for displaced residents.

Allison Duncan, the resident Burns awakened, said when Burns yelled “Fire!” she grabbed her baby and a bottle and fled the burning building.

Firefighters later were able to rescue her two dogs — she said they were scared to leave with her.

“I’m just glad she knocked on my door,” she said. “I was sleeping on the couch directly under the balcony where the fire was.”

Duncan said she was told she’ll likely have water damage in her apartment. Judy Abbott, who lives nearby, was having a garage sale when she heard about the fire and rushed right over.

“I had two or three people stop in to my garage sale and I thank the Lord they did,” she said. “I’ve got furniture left and little girls clothing I’m going to give to them.”

Burns had a pile of clothes and shoes she had her mother bring over for the fire victims.

Bennett said the fire started on a balcony, but wasn’t sure what touched it off. It roared up to the roof, collapsing it on the right side of the building.

Bennett said the apartment building had been restored after fire damaged it in 1994.

Fire departments from Hamilton, Colerain Twp. and Forest Park responded to the blaze. Damage estimates were not available late Sunday.