Fire that displaced more than 40 started on balcony

Hamilton firefighter injured battling blaze at Heritage Glen Apartments.

FAIRFIELD — A fire that caused 21 adults and 21 children to have to leave their homes Sunday, Sept. 12 started on a balcony.

The fire started around noon on that balcony, said Fairfield Fire Chief Don Bennett, but he hasn't said what caused it. The fire roared up the roof, collapsing it on the right side of the building.

Hamilton Deputy Chief Larry Gassert was injured battling the blaze, according to reports. He was transported to Mercy Fairfield, where he was still a patient Monday. Officials would not comment on his condition.

Of the 17 families the American Red Cross assisted after the fire, the Cincinnati Chapter of the Red Cross is providing shelter for 13 people in three families, said Communications Specialist for the Cincinnati area Chapter of the American Red Cross Nikki Williams. Those three families are staying at area hotels.

“They assisted 17 families — 21 adults and 21 children — but a good majority had somewhere else to go,” she said.

She said volunteers are working with the property manager to see if there are other units available for the displaced families and to see what additional assistance is necessary.

Fairfield resident Lori Burns was driving past the building in the 4900 block of Pleasant Avenue on her way home from church around 12:15 Sunday, when she noticed black smoke billowing out of a second floor balcony. The flames quickly ignited the balcony above.

Burns banged on doors letting residents know the building was on fire.

“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.”

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.”

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