Kennebunk Fire Rescue is crediting a neighbor for likely savings lives after calling 911 to report an apartment building fire early Tuesday morning.

They say the neighbor’s early recognition and immediate notification provided them with a critical head start before the fire could grow and block occupants from escaping.

Firefighters say they immediately worked to extinguish the fire while simultaneously waking and removing people from the two-story building on Alfred Road.

They say the fire was relatively small, but its location in an enclosed porch created a significant life-safety concern because it was blocking the occupants’ primary means to leave the building.

There were no injuries in what Kennebunk Fire Rescue says very likely could have developed into a fatal fire.

They say the cause of the fire was determined to be careless disposal of smoking materials.

“This morning’s incident is an important reminder that early recognition, an immediate call to 911, working smoke alarms, safe disposal of smoking materials, and a rapid fire department response can mean the difference between a minor fire and a tragedy,” said Kennebunk Fire Rescue Chief Justin Cooper said in a statement.