Flames shooting out of a home in East Boston at about 5 a.m. sent residents running for their lives with one person reported dead.

The blaze quickly became a six-alarm fire with Boston firefighters immediately using ladders to rescue people from their homes.

Police tell the Herald five residents have been sent to the hospital, one with life-threatening injuries, and another person was found “dead at the scene.” The police spokesman at the scene said the homicide unit has been called in.

At approximately 5:00 heavy fire in a large multi family building on Meridian st East Boston that traveled to the adjacent building . Heavy fire throughout the building , this is now a 6 alarm. pic.twitter.com/MyGNTVDTZu

— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) April 2, 2024

A city firefighter was also injured, officials said, and about 30 residents have been displaced.

Mayor Michelle Wu and BFD Commissioner Paul Burke have just briefed reporters on the blaze.

“The first firefighters that got here had heavy fire showing from two buildings and did rescue of five people over aerial ladders,” said Burke, who added “one child went to the hospital.” He said the “stubborn fire” spread to two other homes.

Companies are attacking the exposure building with and interior and exterior attack and from the roof deck from the building in the rear to keep it from spreading down block pic.twitter.com/zCEYGiMRNa

— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) April 2, 2024

The mayor said she wanted to “share her deepest condolences” to the family of the person who died.

“It’s incredible heartbreaking … we will do whatever we can on the city to help all of those who have been displaced,” Wu said, adding the quick response of the firefighters from around the city saved the day.

The fire remains under investigation.

Over 130 Firefighters battled the 6 alarm fire. Companies starting to make up 30 residents , a couple of birds displaced 1 Firefighter and 6 residents were transported ⁦@BOSTON_EMS⁩ . Damages estimated at 5 million dollars. pic.twitter.com/pBnnYWsnDs

— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) April 2, 2024

This is a developing story …

Commissioner Burke and ⁦@MayorWu⁩ brief the media on the 6 alarm fire in East Boston. 5 residents were rescued over ladders but sadly there was 1 fatality. pic.twitter.com/qO2GJGLqHv

— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) April 2, 2024

This fire on Meridian Street in East Boston became a six-alarm blaze. (BFD photo)