UPDATE- The Chief for the Rome Fire Department says a three family home on Erie Boulevard East is a total loss following a fire.

Chief Tom Iacovissi told NEWSChannel 2 flames were visible when they arrived. He said firefighters started an interior attack, the flames started circling around behind them, and they were forced to evacuate.

They did a search of the home and confirmed no one was home when the fire started. No word as to how many people lived in the home.

Iacovissi says, battling a fire in the heat had its own challenges. "When it's hot like this it saps your energy really quickly, so we're rotating the crews out every 15 minutes." He said they were provided water, and crews were sent back to the engine house to rehab and keep hydrated.

The chief said the red cross is assisting the victims.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ROME- Several fire crews worked Saturday afternoon and into the evening, putting out a fire that shut down a portion of Erie Boulevard.

Rome Police say the fire happened at 157 Erie Boulevard East in Rome. 

NEWSChannel 2 camera crews who were on scene say there was heavy smoke in the area for much of the evening.

The Rome Fire Department says the home is a total loss.

NEWSChannel 2 will provide updates as they become available.