LEBANON, Ind. --
Six people, including two children, were rescued from a burning apartment building in Lebanon early Sunday morning.
Boone County dispatchers received a 911 call about a fire at Eastwood Apartments, at 323 N. East St., just before 6 a.m.
When officers arrived, thick smoke was pouring from the building and several people were hanging from second-floor windows, police said.
"Officers rescued one family group from a hallway and then borrowed a ladder from a nearby home to rescue four more people who were hanging out of upstairs windows," said Lebanon police Lt. Brent Wheat.
The fire was contained to a single apartment, but 18 units in the building had smoke and water damage, police said.
"All our neighbors (were) beating on the walls and everything to wake us up, get our attention," said resident Alexus Smithes.
"The cop took me and then said, 'Hang on tight,'" said Araya Smithes.
Five people were taken to Witham Memorial Hospital and were later transferred to Indianapolis hospitals, Wheat said.
A child was taken to an Indianapolis hospital by medical helicopter in critical condition. Several other residents were treated at the scene.
Two Lebanon police officers suffered smoke inhalation, and a Center Township firefighter suffered a minor hand injury.
Investigators are trying to determine what sparked the blaze.
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