BANGOR – Two people were killed and a Bangor Fire Department captain was injured Sunday night in an apartment building fire at 187 Essex St.

The names of the victims, who lived on the second floor of the three-story apartment building on the corner of Essex and Cumberland streets, were not released Sunday night. Capt. Anthony Riitano was treated for second-degree burns on the back of his neck and released from Eastern Maine Medical Center, according to Assistant Fire Chief Vance Tripp of the Fire Department.

“We had fire blowing out of both sides of the house upon arrival,” Tripp said at the scene. “Everyone had pretty much vacated the building when we arrived. There were no others found [inside].”

Another firefighter was sent to EMMC for heat exhaustion, Tripp said, as ventilation in the complex was poor.

“It was a hot fire, it was closed up. They took a lot of heat,” he said. “They did a hell of a job.”

Crews arrived within minutes after the fire was reported at 9 p.m. and with the help of three fire engines had extinguished the flames within two hours. But firefighters remained on the scene after midnight and planned to monitor the structure through the morning.

It was not immediately clear how many tenants were displaced by the fire, but Tripp said they had all made arrangements to stay with friends or relatives for the night. The assistant fire chief said there were four units in the apartment building, which includes the RAM Tattoo parlor on the first floor. While he did not know the cause yet, Tripp said the fire started on the second floor where the bodies of the victims were found.

Tripp said the State Fire Marshal’s Office was called in to investigate.

Ann-Marie Harris, who lived in one of the second-floor apartments, said she realized the building was on fire after she heard glass breaking and her power went out.

“We were in the back room watching TV and everything went out except for the TV and the computer,” she said. “We went to the hallway and there was just smoke everywhere. It was just all filled with smoke and flames were coming out the window.”

Her friend Matthew Fearon, who was in the apartment, said he broke through a door boarded up with 2-by-4s to reach the fire escape.

“I heard glass breaking and everything flickered,” he said. “I opened up the front door, I was closest to it, and there was smoke everywhere. I put my fist through the front door.”

Working smoke detectors were installed in her apartment, Harris said, but she and her roommates had removed one in order to do some painting. A smoke alarm in a hallway near the fire escape did go off, she said.

Initial reports that a child and other people remained in the building when firefighters arrived were determined to be unfounded, Tripp said.

Michelle Dion, who lives in an apartment building on Cumberland Street less than five feet from the building that burned, managed to grab some clothing and one of her three cats before running out of her building.

“I opened the door and smoke came pouring in and I tried to grab my cats and get out,” said Dion. “I did laundry yesterday and I never put it away, so I grabbed my bag.”

The 18 firefighters on the scene were able to keep the flames from spreading to the Cumberland Street building and to other structures nearby.

Troy Williams, of Fern Street, said he called 911 after seeing people fleeing the building.

“I drove up to the stop sign and smoke came rolling out and people came running,” he said. “Black smoke was rolling out, the flame was just shooting out of it,” he said.

A neighbor who lives in a nearby building on Cumberland Street said she was concerned for the safety of her child.

“The flames were shooting right up,” said Kelly Brownell. “I was scared for a few minutes because I have a 11/2-year-old sleeping in there. I’ve never been this close to a fire like that before.”

Three fire engines responded to the fire.

Reporter Dawn Gagnon contributed to this report.