A firefighter was killed and four others were injured while they battled a blaze in an apartment building in Maine on Friday, authorities said.

The fire tore through a three-story apartment building at about 11 a.m. in Berwick, Maine, fire officials said. About 75 firefighters responded to battle the flames.

The smoke-eaters were injured when they hit a wall of flames on the third floor of the building. They had to be rescued by other first responders, officials said.

The firefighter who died was later identified by the Maine fire marshal as Joel Barnes of the Berwick Fire Department.

The other injured firefighters were treated at a local hospital and released.

With Post wires