NYC firefighter Michael Davidson dies in blaze on set of 'Motherless Brooklyn' film

A New York City firefighter died Thursday after a large fire broke out in a Harlem building where an Edward Norton movie was being filmed.

The blaze broke out on the set of Motherless Brooklyn in the cellar of a building on St. Nicolas Avenue about 11 p.m. Thursday. Firefighter Michael Davidson, 37, who served the department for 15 years, was killed.

"(Davidson) was cited for bravery on four separate occasions," the New York City Fire Department said in a statement. "He is the 1,150th member to make the Supreme Sacrifice while serving our city."

Two other firefighters suffered serious burns, the department said. A number of others with the department had less serious injuries, and three civilians received minor injuries. 

“This is an awful night. We’ve lost an NYC firefighter," tweeted Eric Phillips, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s press secretary.

New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the raging blaze forced the firefighters to back out of the building. "They encountered heavy fire. They did the best they could," Nigro said.

Davidson, who was assigned to the nozzle on the first-to-arrive Engine Company 69, got separated from the rest of the unit and lost consciousness. He was later found by other firefighters and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Davidson is survived by his wife, Eileen, and four children.

Norton was directing and starring in the film, along with Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe and Alec Baldwin.

In a statement provided to USA TODAY by Norton's representative, the producers of Motherless Brooklyn provided context an offered their condolences to Davidson's family. 

"A fire broke out tonight in the building where we were shooting our film," the statement read. "Our production was towards the end of our working day and had dozens of people working on site when our crew noticed that smoke was coming into our set and into other parts of the building from below us. As soon as we noticed smoke coming up into our set, our crew immediately alerted the fire department and began alerting residents of the building even as we evacuated our cast and crew."

The producers continued, "To our great sorrow, we know that a NYC firefighter lost his life battling the blaze that grew, and our hearts ache in solidarity with his family. New York City firefighters truly are the bravest in the world. We watched firsthand with astonishment as they charged into the smoke to make sure all were safely out and then fought to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading, putting their lives on the line as they do every day. The FDNY are real-life superheroes and have our boundless admiration and gratitude."

Contributing: Eve Chen; The Associated Press.