An Adelaide resident is being celebrated as a hero after he raised the alarm about a fire in his apartment building, ensuring his neighbors evacuated safely.

Ross Greig sprang into action, rousing roughly a dozen of his neighbors in the Brooklyn Park area when a blaze erupted in one of the units on Constance Street.

The incident unfolded around 4 a.m. when Greig was awoken by the tenant of the burning unit.

“He told me, ‘I’ve accidentally set the flat on fire,’ before dashing out in a state of panic. I asked him, ‘Where are you going?’ and he replied, ‘I’m heading for the fire brigade,'” recounted Greig.

Despite some reluctance from residents who thought it might be a false alarm, he managed to get most people out, overcoming the challenge of waking those who were still asleep.

Residents had noticed a concerning accumulation of items both inside and outside the apartment where the fire originated, and believe these materials contributed to the intensity of the blaze. 

While the fire spread to an adjacent unit, firefighters successfully contained the major damage to the initial apartment.

The building’s owner said she has offered support to the tenant.

The cause of the fire is undetermined.