A building collapsed early Saturday morning in Philadelphia, killing one firefighter and requiring the rescue of five others.

Rescue operations proceeded for hours before Philadelphia Fire Department 1st Deputy Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy revealed to the press soon before 8 a.m. that the firefighter, a 27-year department veteran, had perished in the Fairhill neighborhood collapse on the 300 block of Indiana Avenue.

Murphy stated that four other firefighters and a Licensing and Inspections Department inspector were also trapped. The five were transferred to the hospital at Temple University.

Murphy stated that the inspector was discharged, and the other four firefighters were in stable condition at the hospital.

It's going to be a difficult few weeks ahead, "he remarked.

Murphy said the building started the fire at 1:53 a.m. He said the fire was extinguished, but the structure collapsed around 3:24 a.m.

NBC10's Skyforce 10 aircraft captured hundreds of firefighters searching for a missing colleague by digging through the rubble and standing around the perimeter of the collapse.

Some firefighters were seen cuddling as they anxiously observed the developing rescue operation.

This cannot be predicted. This was a tragic accident that severely harmed our department, "Murphy added.