A man died and and four other people were hospitalized after a fast-moving fire in Lansford Monday afternoon.

The fire broke out at 332 W. Bertsch Street around 4:45 p.m. The home where the fire started was virtually destroyed, as well as another attached home. A third, detached home on the other side was also damaged.

Police described a grim scene, despite the heroic efforts of neighbors and passersby to attempt to help the occupants of the home where the fire broke out.

“Not only the neighborhood, but people driving by, expended every effort. It was heart-moving, and it’s tragic what the outcome was. It truly is,” said Jack Soberick Lansford Police Chief.

The man who died initially got out, but went back to rescue people who were still inside.

A young child who had been burned in the fire jumped from the second story into the arms of Lansford Police Officer Cody Searfoss.

A woman jumped from a porch roof with her baby in her arms. They were both seriously injured, according to police.

The survivors, including a third child, were all hospitalized at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest.

The occupants of the neighboring homes escaped safely.

There were no serious injuries reported among 100 or so firefighters from 10 companies who responded to the two alarms for the blaze.

Fire companies from Coaldale, Tamaqua, Nesquehoning, Tuscarora, Jim Thorpe and Weatherly were among those who assisted.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Chief Joesph Greco, Chief of Lansford’s American Fire Co. No. 1, said the fire and smoke appeared to be concentrated on the first floor when crews arrived. Firefighters entered the building, but were called out of the building after flames pushed through the roof.

“Once it got into the attic it spread over, and once the roof got compromised, they both collapsed,” Greco said.

The ladder trucks from Lansford and Coaldale poured water down on the blaze from above.

The Carbon County Coroner was called to the scene. The Carbon County District Attorney was also called because all fatal fires are investigated as criminal incidents.

The identity of the victims wasn’t immediately available Monday night.