Residents of a Limeridge Road townhouse complex are praising a neighbour who pulled a teenage girl from a burning unit this morning.

Barbara Trenton pulled the occupant to safety out of a back window of the single-floor townhouse while smoke billowed out.

Ms. Trenton was taken to hospital for examination and was expected to be released this afternoon.

"If that little girl didn't stick her head out that window and scream, who knows what would have happened," said Susan Oshust. "If it weren't for Barbara pulling her out, she'd be dead."

The fire in the Hamilton Housing unit, which was designed for occupants with special needs, broke out around 9 a.m.

Investigator James Gillespie of the Ontario Fire Marshal's office said the fire started in near the stove, but did not immediately know the cause. While there was a lot of smoke in the unit, physical damage was minor.