NEWARK, N.J. - A fire in New Jersey's largest city has killed three people.

The fire broke out Wednesday night in a three-story brick building in Newark.

Fire Chief Michael Lalor (LAW'-lor) says the victims were trapped inside the building and were pulled out alive but died later at a hospital. Firefighters say the blaze is the deadliest this year in Newark, a gritty city of about 280,000 residents just west of New York.

Teenage neighbor James Wilson tells The Star-Ledger newspaper he was playing basketball nearby when he smelled smoke and ran. He says seconds later he saw the building burning.

The fire destroyed windows and damaged wooden beams. The cause hasn't been determined.

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Information from: The Star-Ledger, http://www.nj.com/starledger

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