Two people were found dead after two buildings caught fire in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on Monday, authorities said.
A firefighter was injured battling the blaze and 40 people were displaced, New Bedford acting fire Chief Scott Kruger said in a statement.
The people who died have not been identified, pending notification of their families, according to Kruger.
The fire broke out about 5:30 a.m. Monday. Heavy flames burned a variety store and a bakery on Acushnet Avenue before spreading into two apartment buildings, Kruger said earlier.
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"Both of them caught on fire at about the same time," Kruger said. "They were mirroring each other as far as fire was doing the same thing in both buildings, so early on, it presented a challenge. We needed more manpower."
Firefighters were likely be on scene for the rest of the day, according to Kruger. The cause of the fire remained under investigation but appeared to have started in an area that's common to both buildings.
