Firefighter Dies, 4 Others Injured While Battling Blaze in Baltimore: ‘Our City’s Heart Is Broken’

“We mourn the loss of our fallen comrade,” Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace said on Thursday

A Baltimore firefighter died and four others were injured while battling a fire that scorched several rowhouses on Thursday, PEOPLE can confirm.

At around 3:45 p.m. local time, firefighters arrived at the 5200 block of Linden Heights Avenue, Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace said during a news conference obtained by WBAL-TV 11.

Upon their arrival, “companies were met with extensive fire and smoke conditions,” Wallace said, noting that the fire “appeared to rapidly grow in intensity.” Additional units responded to the scene, where five firefighters sustained injuries.

“Tonight, it is with a heavy heart that I must announce one member has tragically perished as a result of his injuries,” Wallace said during the news conference. “The four other firefighters suffered varying degrees of burns and are being treated at area hospitals.”

Wallace declined to release the name of the firefighter who died.

He said the cause of the blaze is under investigation and that officials believe the homes were occupied at the time.

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The scene was captured by local TV station WBAL-TV 11, with smoke rising from windows and roofs. Firefighters can be seen on the ground as buildings collapsed among the flames.

“Our city’s heart is broken tonight,” Baltimore City Council President Nick J. Mosby wrote in a statement on Facebook. “Firefighters are our superheroes. When they’re taken from us, that pain feels unimaginable and unbearable. And on a tragic night like tonight, we are reminded of the immense risks they face every single day to keep us and our communities safe.”

“The firefighter we lost tonight will be remembered as a hero in our city,” he added.

In a separate statement, Wallace shared that the department is mourning “the loss of our fallen comrade.”

“Let us find solace in the knowledge that he lived a life of courage, dedication, and service, and that his memory will forever be etched in our hearts,” Wallace wrote. “Together, we will honor his legacy by continuing to serve our community with unwavering dedication, knowing that he will forever be watching over us.”