According to firefighters, a resident, Lezlie Garber, woke up and spotted the flames coming from a third-floor balcony. She immediately woke her husband and started to wake up her neighbors to get them out.
Firefighters said flames were shooting from the roof of two third-floor apartments when they arrived. Firefighters then dragged hoses up three flights of stairs to the burning apartments.
Fire officials said the fire started on the third-floor balcony, but they are not sure how it started.
Firefighters said they have not determined what caused the fire. News Center 7's Kathryn Burcham said it appeared that the American Red Cross was on the scene, possibly to help those who were displaced by the fire.
West Carrollton Fire Chief Jack Keister said, "It could have been a lot worse."
Fire officials said two apartments were damaged by the fire, while others suffered water damage.
SLIDESHOW: West Carrollton Apartment Fire