An early morning fire Wednesday on Dewey Street in Roxbury has left 16 people homeless, according to the Boston Fire Department.

Firefighters arrived at an apartment building on Dewey Street to find heavy fire on the rear porches of the three-story residence.

The 12:45 a.m. blaze at the six-unit apartment house caused an estimated $600,000 in damages between the property where the fire originated and an abutting dwelling on Blue Hill Avenue that was exposed to heat and flames.

Fire Commissioner Joe Finn said one resident was taken to an area hospital.