More than two dozen people were forced out of their homes the week before Thanksgiving after a massive fire nearly gutted an apartment building in Calvert County, Maryland.

Firefighters arrived just after 6:30 a.m. to find heavy flames soaring from the roof of the two-story building on Gordon Stinnett Avenue in Chesapeake Beach.

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But before they got there, residents got out thanks to a good Smaritan who came running over when she smelled smoke and saw the flames.

The woman, who declined an interview with News4, went door-to-door to alert residents at the building, likely saving lives, Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Stanton said.

"We have that citizen's information and we'll be thanking them later on for their valiant effort

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