Two men are credited with stepping in and saving children who were trapped by smoke and flames at a Middletown condominium complex Monday night.

Police say 39-year-old Larry Hickmon Jr. intentionally set his Buttonwood Hills apartment on fire Monday night, with three children inside. He's now facing several charges including arson and assault.

Witnesses tell News 12 that children were on a balcony, crying and frightened as the flames were billowing near them, and smoke was pouring into the unit they were in.

Brad Kowalik, a neighbor in the next building, and Robert Granger, who was a visitor there, didn't hesitate and immediately started to help them.

Kowalik had a ladder handy and dropped it down to Granger, who put it up against the building and brought each child down one by one.

It was good timing - within minutes, they say the fire overwhelmed the building.

While everyone is OK, a number of families lost all of their belongings and need to find a new place to live.