One person was killed and three others were injured when fire ripped through an apartment building in Lebanon this morning.

As many six fire companies responded to the fire at 39 South 9th Street shortly after 3:00 a.m. to find the second and third floors of the building engulfed in flames.

A man's body was found in a second floor apartment about an hour after the fire was reported. His name was not immediately released.

"It's been a difficult day, "said Lebanon Mayor Robert Anspach. "Our fire department did a great job in stopping the fire. Unfortunately there was a fatality. That's going to be investigated very closely. We're going to find out if it could have been prevented."

Fire officials said 16 residents of apartment building were forced out. The American Red Cross is providing assistance.

Anspach said a woman was rescued from the third floor, but fell as a firefighter was helping her down a ladder. Both the woman firefighter Michael Daub fell to the ground.

Daub is recovering from injuries he sustained in the fall at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. The woman, who was not immediately identified, was taken to Lehigh Valley Burn Center in Allentown. A firefighter from Cornwall Township was treated at Good Samaritan Hospital and released.

(This is a developing story. abc27 News will provide more information as it becomes available.)

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