A fire marshal at the scene said the cause of the blaze had not been determined but the fire was believed to have been accidental, The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) reported.

The flames were contained primarily to the living room of the second-floor apartment, which housed up to 10 Guatemalan workers, the newspaper reported. It appeared the victims had been overcome by smoke.

In addition to the three men who died, two others were hospitalized in critical condition, including one injured when he leaped from a window. The other residents escaped out windows in the rear of the apartment.