SIDNEY — Two elderly residents were transported to the hospital after being rescued from a balcony during an early Thursday morning fire at their home on Oak Ridge Drive.

According to the Sidney Department of Fire and Emergency Services, firefighters were dispatched to 673 Oak Ridge Drive on the report of a structure fire with occupants trapped in a bedroom and unable to escape on Thursday, Feb. 11, around 1:58 a.m. Also dispatched to the fire were Anna Fire and EMS and Lockington and VanBuren Township Fire Departments.

Upon arrival, Sidney Fire crews found a one-story home with a walk-out basement with fire showing from the front of the residence and heavy smoke coming from the remainder of the house and eaves. Multiple Shelby County Deputies and Sidney Police officers were on the scene and advised the residents had made it out of the house, but were now trapped in the smoke on a balcony. Fire crews, along with law enforcement, were able to rescue the elderly couple from the balcony while a hose line was deployed to extinguish fire on the front of the house and attic.

Due to lack of fire hydrants in this rural area, a second alarm tanker assignment was requested bringing tankers from Fort Loramie, Port Jefferson and Maplewood Fire Departments. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the remainder of the fire and prevent further extension into the attic.

The Oak Ridge Drive home is owned by Barry W. and Shirley A. Knox.

The fire damage is estimated at $75,000 to the structure and $35,000 to the contents.

Both of the elderly occupants were transported to Wilson Health by Anna Rescue. The female occupant was treated and released, and the male occupant was transferred to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton for further care.

The fire remains under investigation by Sidney Fire Department investigators at this time.