Neighbors credited in rescue of girl, 6

YOUNGSTOWN -- A 6-year-old Youngstown girl is being treated for second- and third-degree burns at the Akron Children's Hospital Burn Unit after she was rescued from a house fire at a North Side home.
Robert Hian, city fire department battalion chief, reported that thanks to the quick action of two neighborhood men, Joseph Banyas, and his brother-in-law Donald Connelly, Lisa Durant was pulled out of the burning home Thursday morning.
Connelly, of 1619 Wick Ave., noticed smoke coming from an air conditioner in the living room of a home at 1628 Wick Ave., and he tried to pull it from the window, but the flames were too intense, Hian said.
Banyas went to the back of the home and alerted two occupants of a bedroom, Amber Hernandez and Daniel Durant II, both 21, of the fire. They got out without injury.
A crying child
Banyas said that he heard the child crying near the front door. He kicked in the door but was overcome by smoke.
Connelly, a former Austintown volunteer firefighter, then pulled the girl from the burning structure. He said her clothes were on fire as she was attempting to crawl out of the house.
Connelly said "it feels good" to have helped Lisa. "I hope the little girl is OK."
Fire officials reported that Lisa is Durant's niece. Durant is listed as the occupant of the home that burned.
Lisa was first taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center, but she was later transferred to the Akron hospital, where she was listed in stable condition Thursday.
The cause of the fire is listed as a faulty, overheated air conditioner. Damages have been listed at $20,000. In addition, two of the family dogs suffocated.