UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Four people were killed and several are left homeless Sunday after a massive fire destroys their apartment building on James Street near Oneida Street.

Families gathered all day Sunday to learn the fate of their loved ones. After the flames were extinguished, firefighters and rescue teams spent the day Sunday digging through the rubble.

Around 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon, all people were accounted for with three males and one female ultimately perishing in the fire.

One male victim was found on the first floor, right-side apartment. One female was found on the second floor, right-side apartment and two males were found on the third, most damaged, floor in the left and right side apartments, respectively.

Firefighters responded to the 12-unit apartment building at 102 James Street around 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning. There were initial reports of a woman stuck on the second floor. It is not clear if this was the woman who was killed.

Fire officials say an initial aggressive attack had to be pulled back because the ceiling and floors were collapsing.

According to Utica's Chief Fire Marshal Raymond Beck, the owner of the building, Timothy Klotz, was issued an appearance ticket in April of 2008 for failing to register the structure with the fire department rental dwelling inspection program. Klotz pleaded guilty in June of 2008 and was fined $100.

The plea also involved a conditional discharge that he register the property within 10 days. According to the fire marshall, fire department records indicate that the building was never registered, and that Klotz has eleven other properties that he was cited and fined for, and that these properties were never registered either.

Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks said that the recovery operation was more dangerous than fighting the fire itself. Heavy equipment was brought in to remove debris and allow firefighters access to the building.

As of late Sunday, no names were released as officials notify victim's families. The Arson Task Force was on the scene all day Sunday to determine a cause, which is still yet to be determined.

The Utica Police Department request that people stay away from the area early Monday morning to let investigators continue their work.