Woman thanks neighbor for saving her from an apartment fire — only to return and find she’s lost everything

A woman has shared doorcam footage of her neighbor frantically knocking on her door to warn her of a fire in the building. In the TikTok post she thanked the neighbor for saving her life but unfortunately for her that was just the start of her nightmare.

The dramatic footage was posted by a woman named Cici and the caption reads, “Thank you to my neighbor who woke me up and saved my life on 1/26/26.” In the doorcam footage a man can be heard screaming before running into frame and banging on Cici’s door. He then runs down the hall banging on other doors and yelling “fire!” He then enters one of the apartments where more screaming can be heard.

It’s a very confusing video, especially without context, but Cici explained more in the caption. She writes, “Thank you for waking everybody up Gabe,” before stating that a fire had started in the second floor of the building leading to the apartment on the third floor catching fire too. Thanks to the heroic actions of Gabe, many people in the block who might have perished were able to get out before the fire overwhelmed them.

Things get worse for Cici

While her renters insurance meant she was able to stay in a hotel, upon returning to the now condemned apartment Cici arrived to find her front door wide open. Entering what had once been her home she realized that multiple items of hers had been stolen including a record player which had been a gift from her grandmother.

Cici states in the description that the record player had deep sentimental value to her, “it was a gift that meant so much to me I love my grandmother she raised me.”

Turns out she wasn’t the only apartment that was burgled. It seems opportunistic thieves took the chance to raid the abandoned homes after the fire and steal everything of value from the properties that they could.

Commenters recommended Cici “sue immediately.” Considering many of her neighbors were also robbed it would definitely seem she has a case. Others commended Gabe for warning his neighbors, one person wrote, “He’s so real for that because I ignore the fire alarm in my apartment every time.”

Cici followed up with a post showing the damage to the apartment block from outside, explaining that the fire went up from the second floor and set fire to Gabe’s balcony. Him and his fiancée were also able to rescue their cats. She also explains that the power was turned off on the day of the fire so her doorcam didn’t catch the thieves.