Newark: 9 -year-old girl dies, 2 other children injured in house fire

A 9-year-old girl died and two other children were injured in a house fire in Newark, NJ, ABC News 7 informs.

A strong flame broke out on the top floor of a three-story house on Astor Street just after 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Good Samaritans from a nearby store broke into the house after hearing that two children were locked in one of the rooms.

They tried to enter several times, but were scared away by the strong flames.

"We noticed smoke on the street. We went down to see what was going on, and then he screamed, "Daddy, daddy, there's a fire!" said a store employee. "We noticed flames coming out, so the Spaniard and I started knocking on everyone's doors, the mechanic was trying to wake everyone up, get them out, get them out! And then a little boy came out, he's a regular customer here, and he said: "Help, this is my house!"

According to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, three children were taken to local hospitals.

A 9-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the university hospital.

"It is reported that she is one of eight children who live in this place," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Two more children were treated for injuries in local hospitals.

The prosecutor's office is currently investigating the fire.