COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Firefighters in central Ohio say a newspaper carrier saved the lives of 11 people when he alerted them to a fire in their home.

Twenty-eight-year-old Ben Carroll says he was delivering newspapers around 5 a.m. Thursday on his bicycle when he smelled smoked and saw flames on the side of a house. He says he called 911 and banged on the front and side doors until a man responded. Five adults and six children fled the burning house.

The man who answered the door, Matthew Henderson, says he first thought Carroll was mistaken and didn't believe his home was on fire.

Firefighters say the blaze in Columbus' west side started on a porch near the back of the house.