Two firefighters lost their lives responding to a nine-alarm fire at a brick brownstone in Boston 's Back Bay neighborhood Wednesday . More than a dozen other firefighters were injured . `` In 30 years , I 've never seen a fire travel that fast , escalate that quickly , and create such havoc in such a short period of time , '' Deputy Fire Chief Joe Finn told reporters . He identified those killed as Lt. Edward Walsh , 43 , and Firefighter Michael Kennedy , 33 . Walsh had worked with the Boston Fire Department for close to 10 yeas , while Kennedy had 6 1/2 years on the job . Walsh was married with three kids , all under the age of 10 . Kennedy was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps . `` These two heroes ran into a burning building -- got people out of the building , '' said Boston Mayor Martin Walsh . `` We lost two heroes here today . '' According to Finn , firefighters were able to rescue a number of people stuck on upper floors . He said Walsh and Kennedy became trapped soon after entering the building . They were both later located in the basement , where the fire appears to have started . Fueled by strong winds , flames quickly engulfed the four-story building . At one point , there was an explosion and a number of firefighters were blown down stairs , Finn said . `` That fire ... was blowing like a blowtorch out the front , from the rear to the front , '' the deputy fire chief added . In addition to those killed , 13 firefighters were injured . Some suffered burns , others broken bones . On its Twitter page , Boston Emergency Medical Services said that it had transported 18 patients to area hospitals from the Beacon Street blaze . The area is west of downtown Boston , near the Charles River . Video showed smoke rising over the city . More than 150 firefighters and between 20 and 30 trucks responded to the incident , according to Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald . The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear . It 's under investigation . Mark Bristol , an eyewitness , told CNN affiliate WCVB , that he saw people climbing down the building 's fire escape . `` I watched it go from pretty small to really , really big -- like there was just smoke absolutely pouring out the front entrance , '' Bristol said . 2 firefighters killed in Ohio blaze . Opinion : When heroes face down fire -- and fate .
Those killed are identified as Lt. Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy . `` We lost two heroes here today , '' says Boston mayor . More than a dozen other firefighters are hurt . Blaze appears to have begun in the basement of a brownstone .