Fire crews from West Carrollton and Miamisburg were still pouring water onto hot spots on the third floor about 9:30 a.m.
Lezlie Garber, a resident on the second floor, said when she looked out her balcony window, she didn't see anything at first. But when she went back later, she saw flames on balcony above her.
Garber said she and her fiancee went to the third floor and saw two young women were running out of their apartment, where the fire apparently had started on their balcony.
Jack Keister, West Carrollton fire chief, said when firefighters arrived, they saw flames visible through the roof of the 24-unit building. He said one apartment was on fire when they arrived and flames were spreading to a second apartment.
The fire was difficult to fight because crews had to drag hoses to the third floor, said Keister.
"There are some voids between the walls that are hard to get at, and we're dealing with that now," Keister said.
He added the fire damaged two apartments, and other apartments were damaged by smoke and water.
Keister said it could have been worse if the fire had started earlier in the morning when people were sound asleep. As it turned out, all of the residents got out safely and no fire firefighters were injured.
Keister said he couldn't confirm a resident's claim that the fire started on a balcony. He said the cause and location of the ignition point were under investigation.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2395 or jcummings@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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