Two people were pronounced dead and 11 others were treated for injuries after a fire swept through a five-story residential building in the Bronx on Tuesday afternoon, according to the New York City Fire Department.

Just after 1:30 p.m., FDNY units responded to reports of a fire at 660 E. 187th St., where they encountered heavy fire on the first floor, officials said. The blaze expanded quickly, spreading throughout the building.

“This fire rapidly raced up the stairs, involving all floors of this building. Our engine companies moved in very aggressively with multiple handlines, extinguishing fire on all of the first four floors. When we hit the top floor, due to the amount of the fire and the structural stability of the building, we had to pull our firefighters out of the building and go to exterior operations,” Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said.

FDNY members conducted rescues from the front and rear of the building as the fire intensified to a fifth-alarm assignment. More than 250 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene.

Five firefighters and six civilians were treated for injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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