A major fire broke out early Tuesday morning in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, destroying multiple rowhouses.

The fire, which was initially classified as a three-alarm fire but was later upgraded to a five-alarm emergency, spread rapidly from the original structure to a dozen adjacent homes.

Baltimore City Fire Department units responded to the scene at around 6 a.m., arriving at the 3400 block of Keswick Road.

Family members reported that two individuals were missing from the house where the fire originated, prompting a search effort. One person was transported to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Tragically, the bodies of two victims have been recovered from the rubble of the fire at 3640 Keswick Road.

Fire Chief James Wallace confirmed that there were no firefighter injuries but expressed concerns about the structural integrity of the original fire building, which was at risk of a second collapse.

Heavy equipment was being used cautiously to conduct thorough searches for the missing individuals.

The fire caused significant damage to the affected homes, with two structures collapsing and up to 10 others being impacted. The strong smell of smoke lingered in the area for hours after the fire was extinguished. Residents were actively assisting displaced families.

Emergency crews remain on the scene, continuing to extinguish the fire and conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident.

Further details regarding the victims and the circumstances surrounding the fire will be released as they become available.